The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills (VNASH), a provider of home and community-based healthcare services, has established the Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation (SHCHF), a donor advised fund with the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ). The creation of this foundation coincides with the announcement that VNASH recently joined the Atlantic Health System family to form Atlantic Visiting Nurse.

“The Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation will ensure that past philanthropic support for the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills will continue to have a positive and lasting impact on the health and well-being of the people and communities that we have served for over a century,” said Peter Mercer, former VNASH Board Chair. “We are pleased to partner with CFNJ, a trusted advisor on philanthropic projects throughout New Jersey. This is a natural and positive evolution for us.”

The mission of the Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation will be to identify and provide financial support to high priority home and community health and wellness projects, programs and initiatives in Somerset and Morris counties and surrounding environs. Assets of the fund were raised in part through previous VNASH philanthropic efforts. SHCHF will not be seeking additional donations.

“We are honored to support the Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation as a catalyst for change in our communities,” said Dennis Wilson, Chair of CFNJ. “Building on VNASH’s decades of good works, we will bring the best of our investment expertise together with our community insights to help SHCHF make the greatest impact on pressing health concerns across the counties they have served.”

The SHCHF will be guided by a ten-member Board of Directors consisting of experienced and dedicated volunteers, previous VNASH board members, and other community leaders who will work with CFNJ to execute SHCHF’s mission. Through the collaborative efforts of the new SHCHF Board and CFNJ, VNASH is confident that the community health work supported by loyal community members will continue.

About the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills

For over 100 years, the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills (VNASH) remains committed to the cause of delivering personalized in-home and community-based quality healthcare to both patients and their caregivers. As a post-acute and community-based healthcare provider, VNASH supports patient recovery and help to extend the time people remain living independently in the comfort and security of their home. VNASH, now as part of the AHS family continues to provide services including in-home nursing and rehabilitation therapies, hospice and palliative care, adult day services, community education and caregiver support.

About the Community Foundation of New Jersey

With $500 million in assets, the Community Foundation of New Jersey creates and scales custom solutions for purpose-driven individuals, families, and businesses. The level of precision in CFNJ’s investment and grantmaking capabilities is made possible by a team of specialists who understand the unique contours of communities and can manage the scope of CFNJ’s giving vehicles. From creative projects that tackle critical societal or policy issues to scholarship funds, corporate philanthropy, legacy funds and donor advised funds, CFNJ manages nearly every giving vehicle and tailors solutions to exact needs. More than 1,100 funds grant tens of millions of dollars each year, including $66 million in 2018 in New Jersey and beyond.

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