Owensboro Health Announces 2025 Community Health Investments

Owensboro Health made an announcement regarding its Community Health Investments on February 13 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. 

Owensboro Health community health investments target specific needs identified by the hospital’s community health needs assessment and its Partnering with Our Communities strategic imperative. 

Owensboro Health announced support for 16 projects impacting the communities we serve at this event. 

Community Health Investments provide in-kind and financial support for health, human services and arts projects and programming throughout the region.

In addition, the system shared it will be making additional targeted investment announcements in the next few months directly impacting both priority health areas and social determinants of health. 

Owensboro Health President and CEO Mark Marsh says this support is essential to the organization’s mission—healing the sick and improving community health. 

“These direct community investments allow us to reach beyond the walls of the health system and impact other areas that are key determinants to the health of our patients and community,” Marsh said. “By working together with these community partners, we can accomplish even bigger goals to improve the health of our region. These partnerships are vital for a healthy and vibrant community.”

Agencies and projects awarded a community health investment grant are listed below. 

For more information about the grant process vist OwensboroHealth.org/Grants. 

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Expanding the Impact of Bluegrass Music on Mental Health

This program has three components: Community Outreach will look to engage volunteer musicians in the community to provide musical programming to a variety of audiences in the region; Bluegrass in the Schools will look to expose youth to bluegrass music in collaboration with local teachers; and a partnership with Veterans Empowered Together will allow for songwriters to come alongside veterans to provide an artistic outlet for those who can be assisted by this mental health intervention.

Caneyville Elementary School

Caneyville Elementary Playground Improvement

This project will provide support for the installation of new playground equipment at the school. The equipment will be utilized not only by youth who attend the school, but will also be available to the community at large as a space to encourage physical activity for individuals and families.

Cannelton Food Pantry

Cannelton Food Pantry Facility Improvement

Funding will be used to remodel the existing kitchen to transform the space into a commercial kitchen. This project will allow for services to expand, including offering one community meal at the facility per week.

Community Dental Clinic in Cooperation with U of L Dental Care

Community Oral Health Compassionate Care Project

Target population is the uninsured and Medicaid patients in our area who need routine and emergent dental care through their Charity Care Fund.

Dannheiser Fund for Kids

CREATE Change

This project will seek to provide educational sessions for youth who attend the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club. Three programs will be offered: Teen College Exploration, Art, and Healthy Habits. Upon completion of one of these programs, youth will be allowed to choose a pair of shoes prior the upcoming school year.

Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service

POP (Power of Produce) Club

This eight week program will help close the gap in access to fresh and locally sourced ingredients, increase intake of fresh produce, and encourage participants to try new foods through recipe samples and educational activities. Participants will receive $5 weekly in market bucks to spend on fresh produce at the Owensboro Regional Farmers' Market.

Green River District Health Department

Daviess County Access Project -DC-CAP

Prescription assistance and access to care program reaching at risk vulnerable populations. Goal is to provide at least $3.5 million dollars in donated prescriptions to our local community.

HPC Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Kentucky

Enhanced Bereavement 

Funding provided will support HPC's bereavement program, which provides community education and resources on the topic of loss through death.

Loucon Training & Retreat Center

Healing Haven Nurse’s Station

The new centralized nurse's station will allow for the onsite nurse to provide faster, more efficient care for campers or staff who require medical attention. Overnight accommodations will be provided so a nurse is available at all times when campers are on the property.

Owensboro Dance Theatre

Moving Minds: Dance Integrated Learning for Youth

The “Moving Minds" project utilizes ODT’s unique Dance to Learn: Science & History program to leverage the benefits of cognitive and physical stimulation through dance. This program integrates dance with core educational subjects like science and history, enhancing students' physical activity while supporting their academic goals.

Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market

Commercial Kitchen Facility Upgrade

The purpose of this project is to provide space for educational programming focused on nutrition and agriculture's role in healthy eating habits, along with serving the community as a small-business incubator for businesses in need of commercial kitchen space to prepare healthy food products for sale in our community.

Puzzle Pieces

The Life Ready Project: Empowering Healthy Living Skills

The Life Ready Project will enhance the health, nutrition, and overall well-being of individuals with disabilities at Puzzle Pieces. The renovation of the kitchen facilities will allow clients to be taught essential life skills, thereby empowering them to develop sustainable healthy habits.

Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County

Weekend Accessible and Ready Meals and More (WARMM)

This project will allow for the provision of nutritious meals on the weekends to vulnerable seniors in Daviess County. Both the physical strength and mental wellness of these seniors will be measured and recorded during the course of the grant year. A select number of participants will have the opportunity to receive a mental health screening and directed to appropriate resources if necessary.

Tri-State Food Bank, Inc.

Senior Grocery Program

The Senior Grocery Program will be expanded to The Help Office of McLean County. The goal of this project is to address food insecurity for seniors experiencing food insecurity in the county. Each senior in the program will receive one 12-pound box of food per month for the duration of the grant cycle.

Tucker’s Treehouse

Tucker’s Treehouse: Community Brand Recognition

Tucker’s Treehouse is a new nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has a secure space to cope with the pain under the umbrella of grief. Coping skills and the importance of resiliency will be taught to youth who are experiencing loss through a variety of circumstances. Through these grant dollars provided, the region will become more aware of the services and resources provided by Tucker's Treehouse.

SOS International

Hospital Recycling Partnership Program

Funding supports continued Hospital Recycling Partnership to help support the expenses related to collection and redistribution of surplus medical supplies. SOS was a key partner in addressing needs presented by COVID-19 in Kentucky.