Healthcare Foundation Unveils $50k “vaccinations Without Limitations” Initiative

(SHELBY, NC) – The HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County has committed up to $50,000 to advance the opportunity of providing the Covid-19 vaccine to all eligible Cleveland County residents.

“It is our desire to eliminate all social, economic, and logistical barriers in Cleveland County to ensure that every county resident who is eligible and desires a Covid-19 vaccination receives the immunization as soon as possible,” said foundation Executive Director Dick Baker.

The Foundation will maintain and allocate these funds within its currently established grant guidelines, working in close partnership with Cleveland County Government, the Cleveland County Public Health Center, Cleveland County Schools and Atrium Health Cleveland/Kings Mountain to determine the priority of funding needs to accomplish the goal of providing countywide Covid-19 vaccinations to every eligible resident.

For example, funds could be used to expand public transportation to and from vaccination sites and assist with operational costs to facilitate mass vaccination sites among other things.  “Access to these funds will enable our county health partners to respond quickly to needs as they arise and hopefully vaccinate every eligible resident of Cleveland County quickly and efficiently,” stated Ralph “Scoot” Dixon, Chair of the foundation’s Board of Directors.

The HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County’s mission is to be a catalyst for promoting wellness and improving health in Cleveland County.  “I can think of no better way to demonstrate our commitment to community health than to ensure we are prepared and ready to inoculate every resident as dosage allocations increase in the coming weeks,” said Baker.

In the past five years the HealthCare Foundation of Cleveland County has awarded over $350,000 in grants to local non-profit organizations for projects and programs that improve health outcomes and address social determinants of health and wellbeing.