May St. Joe Foundation Newsletter

May 2023 Newsletter

Why are Black mothers and infants dying at a greater rate in Indiana?
Denise Porter honored for dedication to healthy living
Spring grants address growing nutrition, mental health and immigration needs
Time to get cooking! 22 Our HEALing Kitchen grants awarded
You're invited: Legal Pathways for Immigrants in NE Indiana Conference June 29

- You're invited to a Prenatal & Infant Care Community Presentation -

Why are Black mothers and infants dying

at a greater rate in Indiana?

Hear from Maternal-Fetal Medicine Expert Dr. Lauren Dungy-Poythress

Thursday, June 15, 2023, 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m.

University of Saint Francis

North Campus Auditorium

2702 Spring St., Fort Wayne, IN 46808

Infant mortality rates in Fort Wayne are among the highest in the state and the country, and maternal health disparities are equally alarming. The United States has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among other developed countries. Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die during or within one year of the end of pregnancy. For Black women in Indiana, the maternal mortality rate is 93% higher than the rate for white women. What’s going on?

Join us for a presentation on implicit bias from Dr. Lauren Dungy-Poythress, Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.

Click here to register

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- Honoring a heroine of compassion, humility, and dedicated service -

Grantee spotlight:

2023 Raymond Ronsenberger-

Minette Baum Award winner Denise Porter:

Always Encouraging Healthy Eating Active Living

Longtime community advocate and volunteer Denise Porter is the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Raymond Rosenberger – Minette Baum award.

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation Board of Directors recently nominated Porter for the award to honor her dedication to helping vulnerable individuals learn about healthy eating and cooking.

As a long-time volunteer for the HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) initiative, Porter has facilitated 23 Our HEALing Kitchen cooking and nutrition sessions for both adults and youth. In all, she has taught approximately 175 individual classes. It’s difficult to know just how many people she has reached with her messages about healthy eating, but Denise estimates it as several hundred.

“Our community is truly blessed to have...

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- Investing in the health of our community -

Spring grants address growing nutrition, mental health and immigration needs

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is investing $585,800 in local nonprofits and grassroots organizations that work with low-income and vulnerable residents.

The Board of Directors recently approved the latest round of grants, bringing the total number of grants awarded since January 1, 2023 to 59.

Since the St. Joe Foundation was established in 1998, it has awarded more than $25 million through more than 1,700 grants to approximately 280 organizations.

The St. Joe Foundation is sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and invests in programming and operations that improve the health and well-being of vulnerable residents in four impact areas: Refugees & Immigrants, Nutrition & Food Insecurity, Prenatal & Infant Care and Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare.

“The high inflation we are seeing is increasing...

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- Supporting affordable, nutritious eating -

Let's get cooking!

Our HEALing Kitchen grants awarded

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, in partnership with Parkview Health, is awarding 22 grants to local non-profits to teach the Our HEALing Kitchen classes.

Since 2016, more than 2,600 residents have taken part in Our HEALing Kitchen classes. Survey results show the classes help people improve their knowledge about cooking and nutrition, as well as increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables they eat daily.

Our HEALing Kitchen is a...

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- Working with immigrants to navigate legal pathways

towards employment and citizenship -

National experts will share current legal pathways for hiring and assisting immigrants to attain citizenship

Northeast Indiana has a tremendous opportunity to benefit from the gifts and talents of many immigrants moving into our region from around the world. Hiring these individuals to benefit from their skills and assisting them with their legal work and residency status requires some thoughtful navigation. This one-day conference on June 29 will bring to Fort Wayne some of the leading, national experts on immigration.

Attendees can expect to learn about barriers and solutions to work authorization, the important differences in legal status, the asylum and naturalization processes, as well as important vocabulary.

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A ministry sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

Contact | Prenatal & Infant | Nutrition & Food Insecurity | Immigrants & Refugees | Grants

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