News

Food insecurity remains one of the leading concerns facing low income families, with rural areas especially impacted. Lack of access to affordable food and reliable transportation result in insufficient supplies of food for families and communities. Second Harvest Northland innovated to combat this issue through their Mobile Food Pantry program, serving areas within our support region. Forward Health Foundation provides granting toward this initiative in support of these on-going efforts bringing valuable food supplies right into our rural communities including Deer River, Ball Club, Inger, Marcell, and S. Lake. In 2023, this initiative served over 3,800 individuals in those areas.

One of the ways Forward Health Foundation is able to reach out to our community is through the availability of crisis funds. When a local Essentia Health employee, or patient, is experiencing an unforeseen life event placing a burden on their welfare, we are able to support them through the gifting of VISA gift cards. Employees are referred by their colleagues, and patients are referred by their medical provider for receipt of these gift cards. Also, if the individual or family chooses, they can be referred to additional funds, supports and resources available in our region, where applicable. A crisis

Each year, we distribute up to $10,000 in scholarships to local health care workers pursuing further education.  Our application window opens on January 1 of each year. $1,000 Health Career Scholarships - these scholarships are offered to Essentia Health employees working in Deer River or Grand Rapids and are pursuing health career training, certification, education and advancement. Recipients may re-apply each calendar year. Eligibility: Health-Careers-Scholarship-Guidelines (2) Application: Apply Here NEW FOR 2024 - $500 Deer River High School Senior Scholarship -  these scholarships are offered to Deer River High School seniors pursuing health career training after high school.  Applications are completed

Our annual Essentia Health Cornerstone Employee Giving Campaign kicked off in May with banana splits and apple sundaes encouraging employees to submit project ideas that enhance the receipt of care by patients, or the delivery of care by providers.  Because of this campaign, the generosity of employee donors, and the matching generosity of Foundation donors, we are working to complete 9 of the 16 projects ideas submitted aimed at improving the overall patient experience.  Some of those projects include a blanket warmer for radiology, over the bed hospital tables, outdoor seating areas, and a hospitality station in the hospital. 

This year’s Party in the Park event on August 12 was our biggest yet – serving nearly 700 community members.  It was an honor to host this event bringing people together while providing the opportunity for local organizations to share their work, along with our ability to support partnering non-profits, youth organizations, and civic groups in fundraising.  Thank you to sponsors for our ability to make contributions to volunteer groups.  Those sponsors included: TC Energy, Essentia Health, Leech Lake Gaming, Itasca Area Community Education, Deer River Area Chamber of Commerce, Deer River Vet’s Club, Deer River Healthcare Volunteers, Northern