Angela Palumbo, BRHF Board Chair
The mission of the Buhl Regional Health Foundation (BRHF) is best understood through the voices of those who lead it. As part of this ongoing series, we’re highlighting reflections from leadership who live and work in Mercer County, offering a closer look at how BRHF is improving health outcomes and overall wellbeing, especially for youth, through thoughtful, community-driven investment.
This month, we are highlighting the words of BRHF’s Board Chair, Angela Palumbo, as she describes the development and implementation of our foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic framework. Angela has served on BRHF’s Board of Directors since its inception in 2016; contributing to its growth, strategic direction, and evolution as a community-focused philanthropic organization.
Below, Angela shares her reflections on the foundation in her own words, offering a firsthand perspective as Board Chair.
The Story of the Buhl Regional Health Foundation
by Angela Palumbo, BRHF Board Chair
BRHF’s Vision and Origin
The Buhl Regional Health Foundation was formed by dedicated community leaders who managed the county’s first major evolution in regional health funding. Many had served on hospital boards in the past and knew the communities involved. BRHF, the first of its kind in Mercer County, was created as a private foundation for the purpose of protecting and growing its financial resources in perpetuity and to serve its communities independently and without affiliation to any hospitals, government agencies, or for-profit entities. The mission of its staff and Board of Directors is to strengthen the conditions that support the social determinants of health that include food access, housing, education, transportation and mental health, especially among youth, and promoting collaboration among those organizations that may never have had the chance to work together for the good of the communities they serve.
A Strategic Investment
The Buhl Regional Health Foundation is unique from other foundations that the public may be familiar with. As a private foundation, strategic processes exist for granting dollars to individuals or organizations across Mercer County. The Foundation exists by making prudent investments that will sustain and grow, likewise the money we give to any collaborative partner must provide a return on investment to our Board and staff and make a measurable difference in the foundation’s strategic focus. Never before in Mercer County has an organization such as this foundation been able to make such a positive impact with a strategic focus as ours. In other words, we do not just hand out dollars, we are investing in the future of our community by funding and or creating sustainable programs.
Our Foundation does not fundraise or receive public dollars as a means of support. We invest and grow our dollars through an astute Investment Committee to ensure long term sustainability and impact around the region. The foundation has a grant process that must meet with our mission objectives. The staff and board analyze the impact our investments make in the communities which determines where future dollars can be targeted for the goals that are made. Every dollar is accounted for and the foundation staff is closely aligned with our investment partners, auditors, and accountant to ensure the foundation is in compliance with specific Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations associated with a private foundation.
One Program at a Time, Changing Lives
By continuing to host Camp Courage, a hugely successful summer camp for youth, the foundation has focused on the unmet needs of those youth who have experienced the unexpected death or separation of a loved one at an early age which impacts learning and social behaviors during this formative period of their lives and as time goes on. Partners who participate in this project continue to provide support and remain involved, even after the camp is over. A youth survey was conducted providing valuable feedback from students firsthand, and it also provided knowledge of the lack of support for mental health needs in the various schools that participated. This is being addressed through supportive measures by staff collaborating with organizations that can meet their needs.
The free Community Dental Clinic provides a necessity in the region that was paramount in addressing health needs that affect young and old, across generations. The long-term benefits of dental health are often ignored. The Community Dental Clinic is now a year-round venture fully funded by the Buhl Regional Foundation providing an advantage to our neighbors who are not able to afford or prioritize dental care and may have never visited a dentist.
The Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s Commitment
As a Board Member, I value the Buhl Regional Health Foundation because we are independent of any political or adverse pressure to do what some may feel satisfies their personal request. Our staff and board are committed to providing resources for the wellbeing of every individual and organization in our Mercer County communities regardless of what biases exist. We will make a powerful impact and change for the future as we invest in programs and partnerships that strengthen the wellbeing of our entire region now and for generations to come.
Angela Palumbo’s reflections reinforce the core of BRHF’s work: a long-term commitment to improving community wellbeing through thoughtful leadership, strategic investment, and deep connection to the region it serves. Read more from the “Investing in Wellness” series here.
About the Author
Angela Palumbo is a passionate advocate for community well-being. She is a retired state employee, who served as Administrator of the Pennsylvania CareerLink Mercer County. Angela has served on many boards and agencies in the Shenango Valley. Her original board service for the Buhl Regional Health Foundation was as its Secretary from 2016 to 2019 and since 2019, she’s served as the Board Chair.