About Us:

The Foundation became operational in July 1988, when Portsmouth General Hospital was sold to Tidewater Health Care, Inc.  Our existence and mission were not affected by the 1996 sale of the hospital to Bon Secours Health System, Inc.  We are a private foundation not affiliated with any hospital.

Our mission is to support innovative as well as established programs which improve the ealth and quality of life of the Portsmouth community.  Fifty percent of our grantmaking is for children’s health in Portsmouth, ages prenatal to five.

A Board of Directors selected from the Portsmouth community governs the Foundation.  The Board makes all decisions on proposal funding.  We have 11 Board members who rotate off the Board after 2 three-year terms.

The Foundation has a staff of two people and one cat.

The Board awarded its first grant in July 1989, to Child and Family Service for the Good Beginnings program.  Since then the Foundation has awarded more than 700 grants.

Through June 2007, the grants awarded are approximately $11 million.

The original endowment in 1988 was approximately $7.6 million.

The endowment is currently valued at approximately $17 million; this amount varies daily.