Rapha_Logo_RGB2.png


Empowering Health and Education in Southwest Virginia

Our Mission
and Vision

 
24.jpg
 

Our Beginning

Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc., Releases Minority Interest to Ballad
Board of Directors reorganizing as a 501(c)(3) private foundation, appoints Mark S. Vanover as Executive Director

Norton, Va. - The Board of Directors of Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc., has approved the sale of its 49.9% minority interest in Norton Community Hospital to Ballad Health System for an undisclosed amount. The purchase was made effective on September 30, 2019.

The board will reform as the governing body for the newly created The Rapha Foundation, a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization, dedicated to improving population health and access to education across Southwest Virginia. Mark S. Vanover has been appointed Executive Director to staff and lead the organization, beginning December 2.

The nine-member volunteer board will manage the proceeds from the sale of the hospital to administer, invest in, and create major grants focused on addressing root causes of health and education inequality.

“This is an exciting opportunity to enable positive change and strengthen our community beyond hospital walls,” explained Charles “Jibber” Ward, Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Rapha Foundation, and former chair of Norton Community Hospital. “Our work has already begun to identify significant areas of need where we believe The Rapha Foundation can make an impact in addressing health literacy, healthcare access, and creating new pathways to education.”

Under Vanover’s leadership, the organization expects to announce its first major gift before year’s end. Vanover brings extensive healthcare and civic experience to the role, having served as Assistant Vice President for Dickenson Community Hospital since 2010 and Dickenson County Administrator from 2008 to 2010. A proven leader with 30 years of executive experience, in his current position Vanover has established numerous partnerships with community leaders in both public and private settings to facilitate Community Needs Assessments to identify high-priority populational health focus areas.

“I’m extremely proud and humbled for the opportunity to lead this new organization toward great things,” said Vanover. “Nothing of this magnitude has been created in our region before. The Rapha Foundation will create opportunity and provide major resources to create new partnerships and bolster the efforts of other hardworking local organizations in Wise and Dickenson Counties, and the City of Norton.”

“Rapha means ‘healing’ in Hebrew and we believe we’re in a great position to support healing of the communities in which we have been so proud to serve,” added Ward. “Through this sale, we can not only continue supporting the work at Norton Community Hospital, but also generate substantial impact in new ways for our region.”

For more information, email Mark Vanover.

 

News