Ascension Saint Agnes and Maryland Physicians Care Award More Than $860,000 to Baltimore Nonprofits
Special to the Baltimore TimesAscension Saint Agnes and Maryland Physicians Care are investing more than $860,000 into Baltimore-area nonprofit organizations working to address health, housing, recovery, education, behavioral health and environmental needs across the region.
The community grant presentation was scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital, where 12 nonprofit organizations were selected to receive funding. The grants are intended to strengthen community-based services that help residents access support beyond traditional medical care.
The grant recipients include Tuerk House, People Encouraging People, Blue Water Baltimore, UEmpower of Maryland, Saint Joseph’s Monastery, Catholic Charities, Helping Up Mission, Community Assistance Network, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, Reed House Foundation, St. Frances Academy and Friends of Violetville Park.
Together, the organizations serve a wide range of community needs, including addiction recovery, behavioral health support, homelessness services, youth education, environmental stewardship and family stability.
“Health is shaped by what happens in people’s everyday lives at home, in their neighborhoods and with the organizations that show up for them when they need it most,” said Beau Higginbotham, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Agnes. “Our work to meet our community members’ health and social needs does not stop at our doors. These grants, in partnership with Maryland Physicians Care, strengthen our community’s services and support system.”
The investment reflects a growing understanding that improving health requires more than hospital visits, medical appointments and prescriptions. For many families, access to stable housing, nutritious food, safe neighborhoods, quality education, recovery resources and trusted community organizations can play a major role in long-term well-being.
“Improving health outcomes goes beyond medical care,” said Jason Rottman, president and CEO of Maryland Physicians Care. “By investing in trusted community organizations, we’re helping ensure individuals and families have access to the resources they need to live healthier, more stable lives.”
For Ascension Saint Agnes, the grant program builds on more than 150 years of service in the greater Baltimore area. The health system includes a 254-bed teaching hospital, primary and specialty care providers, emergency services and advanced medical imaging centers. Founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1862, Ascension Saint Agnes is also recognized as Baltimore’s first Catholic hospital.
Maryland Physicians Care, headquartered in Linthicum Heights, provides free healthcare services to Maryland HealthChoice enrollees through the state’s Medicaid program. The organization is owned by Ascension Saint Agnes, Holy Cross Health, Meritus Health and UPMC Western Maryland.
Through the grants, both organizations aim to support nonprofits already working directly with Baltimore residents and families. By funding programs rooted in neighborhoods and community relationships, Ascension Saint Agnes and Maryland Physicians Care are helping extend care beyond the walls of the hospital and into the places where people live, learn, recover and seek support.
The funding also highlights the role nonprofit organizations play in addressing social needs that often affect health outcomes. Whether through shelter, counseling, education, environmental work, recovery programs or youth development, the selected organizations are part of a broader support system for Baltimore communities.
The more than $860,000 investment represents a partnership-centered approach to community health, one that recognizes that hospitals, healthcare providers and local nonprofits must work together to help individuals and families build healthier, more stable lives.
