Community leaders discuss healthcare needs
Ayer, Massachusetts (March 08, 2007) – Community leaders met with community foundation officials serving the Nashoba Valley region to offer their input on the region’s most pressing health issues.
The advisory committee will make funding recommendations for two healthcare endowments: Nashoba Valley Community Health Care Fund and the Nashoba Valley Professional Health Care Education Fund. The funds were created last year from the proceeds of the sale of the former nonprofit Deaconess-Nashoba, now called Nashoba Valley Medical Center Hospital, to the for-profit Essent Healthcare in 2003.
“This advisory committee will be instrumental in helping us pinpoint initiatives to improve the region’s health,” commented Phil Grzewinski, president, Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
The committee members include: Gail Clayton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer, MA; Michael Devlin, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, Wellesley, MA; Steve Gervais, Gervais Ford, Ayer, MA; Judith Giacoppe, Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA; Heather Hasz, Ayer, MA; William Marshall, North Middlesex Savings Bank, Ayer, MA; Steven Roach, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer, MA; Judith Robinson Ph.D., Groton Dunstable Regional School District, Groton, MA; Lee Smith, MassDevelopment, Devens, MA; Jerry Stefanski, Nashoba Nursing Service & Hospice, Shirley, MA; Beverly Volicer, PhD, University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Health and Environment, Lowell, MA; Janice Yost, Ed.D, Health Foundation of Central MA, Worcester, MA.
The purpose of the funds is to provide annual distributions to nonprofit organizations, municipalities and other agencies in order to advance the community health of residents in thirteen communities originally served by the hospital, which include Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford.
“We anticipate making grants this year shortly after the advisory committee reviews the findings of local and regional community health needs assessments, which are already in process,” noted Dave Kronberg, executive director of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.
