St. Mary's Health Wagon Continues Bringing Health Care to Rural Appalachia

Clinchco, Va. -- Unlike the vast majority of healthcare nonprofits in America struggling to serve the poor during the current economic downturn, St. Mary's Health Wagon is now able to expand its care to the medically underserved, thanks in large part to healthy returns from a charitable endowment granted by Catholic Church Extension Society. The regional mobile health provider serving remote areas in the Appalachian Mountains recently learned that a $1 million endowment granted last year by Catholic Extension as a gift from the Thomas H. Maren Foundation has yielded returns in excess of $100,000, or more than a quarter of the organization's annual operating budget.

"We are in the best position we've ever been in during our 26-year history, and it is because of Catholic Extension and the Marens," said Teresa Gardner, Executive Director of Health Wagon. "We are extremely thankful that they came to our side when we were in jeopardy and restored our future."
St. Mary's Health Wagon, now in its 25th year, faced uncertain times after the recession forced several of the organization's key donors to withdraw their funding. The Catholic Extension endowment, a 20-year grant awarded in 2008, not only allowed operations to continue but enabled substantial organizational growth. Health Wagon has recently added staff and secured a partnership with a local hospital to meet increased demand for its services and promote a healthier community.

"Catholic Extension is gratified that our wise investment strategy is making such a huge difference for Health Wagon," said Joe Boland, Director of Grants Management at Catholic Extension. "By extending beyond traditional monetary methods of supporting organizations that serve the poor and isolated, we were able to convert a generous, sizable gift into a larger one that not only helped save a struggling organization, but actually stimulated substantial growth. Ultimately, it's the sick and poor who benefit, and that's so rewarding."

Health Wagon's unique service has garnered the attention of both national media and those in need of health care across America. In January, the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes" aired a segment featuring the organization. As a result, sick and poor individuals have traveled across the country to receive free medical attention. In one instance, a couple from the state of Washington used frequent flyer miles to travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to receive medical attention from Health Wagon.

The Health Wagon is active in the rural areas surrounding Richmond, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky. It visits eight sites in Southwest Virginia's Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Wise Counties on a weekly, biweekly, and monthly basis.

To learn more, visit thehealthwagon.org.