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Honoring Community Partnership:
A Year-End Message of Gratitude & Hope
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Dear Partners,
As we head into the holidays and look back on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the partners, residents, and community leaders who continue to shape and strengthen our region. Your insight, perseverance, and care guide our work every day.
The highlights below reflect not only what we accomplished together in 2025, but also the values and relationships that guide our work:
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Early into the year, we launched a Rapid Response Fund to offer timely support for non-profits navigating unexpected funding disruptions that put essential services at risk.
Designed with flexibility and a streamlined process, the fund helps stabilize organizations during moments of sudden change so they can continue showing up for the communities they serve.
To date, a total of 10 awards totaling more than $490,000 have been made to organizations across the region.
| Uplifting Neighborhood Health Status Improvement | | |
In April, Community voices were uplifted through a new mini-documentary, Neighborhood Health Status Improvement: Empowering and Transforming Communities, which shares the stories of three resident-led projects: Project SOAR in Southeast Wayne County; Project STEPS in South Seneca County; and Project HOPE in Northeast Rochester.
From youth leadership to civic engagement and local entrepreneurship, each project offers a powerful example of what becomes possible when communities are trusted -- and resourced -- to lead.
| Expanding Health Equity Resources | |
Through our Responsive Grantmaking, we partnered with the Rochester Area Community Foundation this year to expand regional support.
Together, we awarded an additional $440,035 to nonprofit organizations, bringing the total joint investment to $2.1 million focused on mental health, basic human needs, and food security. Both foundations continued to prioritize LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrant and migrant communities, veterans, and people with disabilities. Read more here.
| | Reflecting on What We've Built Together | | |
Reflection guided our Annual Highlights report this year. Released this summer, "What We've Built Together," looked back on five years of growth shaped by the community -- navigating COVID together, deepening our commitment to rural areas, elevating racial health equity, and re-centering our whole-child health work.
We're especially grateful for the many organizations who allowed us to share their stories in the report via Grantee Spotlights. Looking for more stories? Be sure to visit our Grantee Spotlight page.
| | Celebrating Healthy & Equitable Futures | |
In October, Parent Leader Facilitators brought forward the vision for the first Healthy & Equitable Futures Summit, celebrating seven years of parent leadership and collective efforts to support child well-being in Black and Brown communities across Rochester. Supported by our partners at National Parent Leadership Institute, the summit was an opportunity to reflect and recognize a community that continues to lead with courage, creativity, and care, highlighting what becomes possible when philanthropy shares power, when organizations listen to families, and when leadership grows from the ground up. Visit our new Healthy & Equitable Futures Learning Collaborative website to learn more.
| Supporting Grantees Partners & Community Non-Profits | |
Capacity-building efforts for local non-profits were strengthened through partnerships with organizations deeply rooted in community, including the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley’s Immersive Grant Writing Program, the Fatherhood Connection’s Trauma-Informed Care training (pictured), and Causewave’s Ready, Set…GRANTS! series.
Recognizing the need to support frontline workers that are part of our Racial Health Equity work, we supported the creation of BreatheDeep's Project Restore and the Respite Place, which offers a comprehensive wellness program with healing resources and a newly-renovated space that includes a sauna, massage chair, dine-in kitchen, and a living area for creative relaxation.
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As we move into 2026, our commitment remains the same to listen closely, invest in people, and support community-led approaches that expand health equity and opportunity for all. Thank you for your partnership and the many ways you continue to guide and inspire this work. We look forward to walking alongside you in the year ahead.
With Gratitude,
Greater Rochester Health Foundation Staff & Board
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Meet With Us
We’re always interested in connecting with you! If it’s been a while, you’d like to have coffee, or show us what’s going on in your area, please reach out to any of us at the Health Foundation – we’d be happy to connect! Click here for our staff directory.
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