In addition to supporting high-quality care for our region, community members, sponsors and compassionate Centra Caregivers who give through the Centra Foundation make a truly meaningful impact on patients and families struggling to afford services, Caregivers facing an acute, unexpected need and aspiring nurses who receive scholarships that enable them to pursue their dreams.
Below you will find a few ways your generosity saved lives, enhanced health and improved well-being for our neighbors in need as well as supported current and future Caregivers in 2025.
Free screenings and diagnostic services
370 free screenings and diagnostic services for women in our local communities so far this year
Your donations to the Mammograms Annually A Must (MAAM) Fund raised awareness about the importance of annual mammograms, supported free screening events and helped underinsured and uninsured patients receive mammograms throughout the year.
Stays at Rosemary & George Dawson Inn
Over 100 nights provided and supplemented so far this year for patients in need
You provided easy access and peace of mind for patients who needed to be close to care. The inn provides lodging for patients, or family and friends of patients, receiving medical care at any Centra location and is close to Centra Lynchburg General Hospital and Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center. Stays were supported by the Dawson Patient Inn Fund and Cancer Patient Support Fund.
Support services for cancer patients, including transportation
211 rides to appointments so far this year
Elderly patients who live alone and do not have family nearby are especially at risk of not having reliable transportation, as are patients with a disability or other health challenges. Your donations to the Cancer Patient Support Fund helped cancer patients access transportation, medication and more.
Support for individuals and families to access community resources and care
Community health workers addressed barriers to food, housing, care and more
A successful pilot program for a community health worker (CHW) funded by generous donations from Foster Foundation and others who give through the Centra Foundation redefined the frontlines of community care over the past couple years and enabled Centra to expand the program this year. Funding continued to support a CHW for CMG - Brookneal, and additional funding was committed for a CHW at CMG - Lynchburg Family Medicine to help individuals and families access resources to live healthier, more stable lives.
Support services for behavioral health patients after discharge
Essential supplies and support to succeed
With donor support, the Providing Access to Healing (P.A.T.H.) Program assisted patients of Centra Pathways and adult and geriatric psychiatric patients at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital in securing recovery living, transportation to attend therapy sessions and medical appointments, essential services and supplies to support stabilization and ongoing recovery.
Scholarships for aspiring nurses
197 scholarships awarded to 132 students
You helped aspiring nurses pursue their dreams and Centra build its team of dedicated Caregivers by supporting scholarships for students attending Centra College. More scholarships were awarded in 2025 than in each of the previous two years.
Emergency assistance for Caregivers facing an acute, unexpected need
40 Caregivers received assistance so far this year
The Helping Hands program, administered by Centra Spiritual Care & Education, supports Caregivers facing an acute, unexpected need. The program is supported by community donors and Caregivers who want to help colleagues. In 2025, 20% of Caregiver gifts to the Greatest Need Fund supported Helping Hands, and Caregivers could donate 100% of their gift to the Helping Hands Fund.
Patient assistance across the service area
Assistance with medical bills for those who qualified
Centra serves patients at all income levels. Medicare and Medicaid do not fully cover the cost of care. Your support helped to provide high-quality care for patients, regardless of ability to pay.
In addition, previous funding continued to make a difference for families and patients who, upon discharge, needed a car seat or clothing, shoes and toiletries.
Some of the sentiments patients, families, scholarship recipients, Caregivers and donors shared this year:
“I’m so grateful. Thank you!” --Scholarship recipient
“I came to Pathways with just the clothes on my back. I greatly appreciate it.” --Anonymous patient expressing appreciation for clothing
“I cannot express how helpful the assistance from Helping Hands was for me and my family. I am incredibly grateful and want to say thank you to everyone who has donated.” --Andrea Beaudry, RN
“Ultimately, every gift does enhance the quality of care, expand access and provide comfort.” --Carolyn Jacques, donor and Centra Foundation board chair
In addition to investing in innovative equipment, facilities, staff and programs, “the Foundation funds rides to appointments, free screenings and things like that. There are so many things our resources do to help Centra fulfill their mission. In addition to the big things, it’s a thousand little things. It all adds up to making a difference in our community." --Sackett Wood, donor and Centra Foundation board member
Centra Foundation develops and directs resources for the support of Centra to help our not-for-profit healthcare system provide high-quality care and meet the healthcare needs of over 500,000 people in our local communities, regardless of ability to pay. The Foundation makes a meaningful difference in enhancing and strengthening the health of the community through supporting capital improvements; medical screenings, services and care for patients in need; scholarships for nursing students and advanced education for clinicians; and healing programs.
