May 2024

GRANTS | FUNDING | SUPPORT

Introducing Our New Board President

We enthusiastically welcome Annie Smith-Jones as our new Board President!

Annie resides with her husband, Donald Jones and their three Portuguese Water Dogs in Bridgewater, Vermont with time also spent at their condo in Seabrook Island, SC.  Annie and Don own an environmental consulting firm that specializes in contamination assessment and remediation.  Their expertise has given them the opportunity to travel with a non-profit landing them in Dakar, Senegal for a lead battery clean up as well as in Mexican villages with lead-based ceramic glaze pollution. Annie continues to work full time.

Annie has a Master’s degree in Social Work with a psychiatric concentration and a Bachelors in Elementary and Special Ed. She has worked at a Community Mental Health Center in Wisconsin providing counseling services and running their intermediate care program helping clients return to their community.  From there Annie worked with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and then with the Massachusetts Department of Social Services supervising Master level social workers responsible for running their foster care and adoption programs.

More recently from 2018-2023 Annie was an elected official for the Seabrook Island Utility Commission overseeing the water and waste water treatment plant for the community.  As Chair for four years, Annie was involved with the regulatory and funding agencies, the local town council and mayor as well as resolving public issues.

Currently Annie serves on the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America’s board of directors as their Treasurer.  Annie enjoys her four local grandchildren, playing pickleball, fused glass work and trialing in agility with her Portuguese Water dogs.

We are in need of 1 more volunteer to help at the Covered Bridges Half Marathon this Sunday, June 2nd from 8am-12pm. OHF receives a donation from CBHM in exchange for volunteering. Please reach out to Hali at director@ohfvt.org if you are available.

Interested In Joining A Committee?

We have openings on our Real Estate and Communications Committees!

Real Estate Committee

The mission of the OHF Real Estate Committee is the upkeep and preservation of the Simmons House. The Committee reports to the Board of Trustees for approval of any requested repair exceeding $1500.00. In addition, the Committee periodically reviews the provisions of Tenants’ Leases, including rental values.

This committee generally meets on a quarterly basis.

Communications Committee 

Do you have any skills or energy you could contribute to:

1. Expand our reach both directly and online to the communities we serve? Perhaps promoting OHF at the Wednesday Farmer’s Market or the Taste of Woodstock; or helping us update our website.

2. Identify unique and dynamic approaches to our current fund raising strategies? Perhaps personalizing the OHF annual appeal or growing our base of donors.

Join our leadership team and help build OHF for the future.

This committee generally meets on a monthly basis.

Volunteer Opportunity!

Are you available Thursday, May 30th from 2-5pm? We need help prepping our spring appeal. Come join us in our Conference Room!

Please reach out to Hali at director@ohfvt.org if you are interested or have any questions!

Change Lives With Your Donation

We have received 149 grant requests totaling over $172,000 so far this year. Would you join us in supporting our community?

The Ottauquechee Health Foundation assists hundreds of community members in overcoming the financial stress that health and wellness challenges impose on our neighbors every day.

The Ottauquechee Health Foundation continues to be there for our communities, one grant, one neighbor, one friend, and one need at a time. We need your help, one donation at a time, to ensure that we are adequately funded to continue meeting the needs of the people we serve.

Your donations don’t just help; they change lives.