The Alliance for Health Equity is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. In 2001, we launched our mission, as we strived to initiate and support programs to improve the health and well-being of our community. We have not strayed far from that original goal and are proud of our accomplishments.
TOGETHER, we have been tackling our community’s most pressing health problems with real solutions for the greater Coatesville area for two decades. TOGETHER, we have funded valuable non-profits, launched new programs where there have been service gaps, and built partnerships and new leaders.
Strong Leadership
We are grateful for the hundreds of individuals who have served and continue to serve on the foundation’s board of directors, and we are also grateful for our volunteer committees and partners who have supported the foundation through the years with their time and donations. We are especially thankful for the women and men who led our board over the last two decades. This roster includes Victor E. Ziegler, A. W. (Albert) Eastburn, Anne L. Hearn, Doris A. Grassi, Thomas J. Belmont Jr., Harry Lewis Jr., James H. Manning Jr., Esq., Dawn M. James, Jason D. Alexander MPP, and our current Board Chair, Richard C. Clark.
Heartfelt Gratitude To Our Founding Board Leader
We’d be remiss if we failed to acknowledge Mr. William Kay II, founding board member of the foundation and former Finance Committee Chair, who passed away in April of 2020. Bill, and his wife Brit, generously opened their beautiful home to host one of the foundation’s Garden Parties, as well as a VIP sponsor reception. The Kay family also provided a leadership challenge gift to the Brandywine Health and Housing Center in Coatesville, and the conference room is named in their honor. Bill was a one-of-a-kind gentleman who taught us all so much about the power of generosity. Upon his passing, he provided the foundation with a legacy gift, so that we could continue to honor his memory by advancing our vital work.
A Snapshot Of 20 Years Of Impact
Community Resources:
- Distributed nearly $19 million in scholarships and grants serving tens of thousands of individuals and families in the greater Coatesville area.
Community Programs:
- Led a Youth Philanthropy Program helping high students learn the nuts and bolts of philanthropy. Thanks to Citadel, we gave over $75,000 to nonprofit organizations.
- Spearheaded a Youth Mental Health First Aid Project to address mental illnesses and addictions, including warning signs, risk factors, and ways to bolster confidence, as we strived to improve the behavioral health status of 7,377 children and teens in the Coatesville Area School District.
Community Economic Development:
- Addressed gaps in service and built the Brandywine Center, the first major revitalization project in the city in nearly three decades. The Brandywine Center provided 24 units of affordable senior housing and a variety of critical healthcare services for uninsured and underinsured children, families, and seniors.
- Transformed parks and playgrounds by creating inviting public spaces for the community to thrive and be healthy.
Why is 20 years special?
We aren’t even officially an “adult” yet — we have just begun! Despite how “young” the foundation is, our impact has been vast. And none of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of our board leadership, our volunteer committee members, our donor partners, and our staff. We have accomplished so much TOGETHER, and we look forward to continuing on this journey that began two decades ago towards greater equity for all of our neighbors in Coatesville.
As Chief Impact Officer with the The Alliance for Health Equity (AHE), Dana Heiman is in charge of donor engagement and outreach. The Alliance for Health Equity is a philanthropic organization striving to advance a more equitable, resilient and healthy community for all residents of the Greater Coatesville area. We pursue our mission by providing grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students that address health and economic disparities and social justice. We also build partnership programs and give voice to those often left out of community solution building to improve the overall health of their communities. 100% of contributions go directly to those in need.