Create Healthy March 2026 Newsletter
Friends of Create Healthy,
It has been an exciting start to the year at Create Healthy, and I’m grateful for the momentum building toward a healthier Hill Country.
This year has brought several important updates for our organization. We recently welcomed two new members to the Create Healthy Board and a new board chair. Strong, thoughtful leadership helps ensure that our investments and initiatives continue to reflect the priorities of the communities we serve.
Our board also approved the addition of a new strategic funding priority: food security. This focus emerged directly from the results of the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and conversations with community members during the 2025 Community Health Summit, where access to healthy food was identified as a critical factor in supporting long-term health.
We are also continuing to support local organizations and individuals through a range of initiatives, scholarships, sponsorships, grants, and opportunities that strengthen community health and expand access to resources across the Hill Country.
Thank you for staying engaged with Create Healthy and for being part of this work.
I invite you to explore our newsletter to learn more about what’s happening across our programs and partnerships. Additionally, click the links below to see the latest on our investments, news, and initiatives.
Yours in good health,
Jayne Pope, RN, MBA
President and CEO, Create Healthy
Opportunities
Scholarships for High School & College Healthcare Learners Now Open
Create Healthy is now accepting applications for its 2026 Student Scholarship Program. If you know a graduating high school senior or a current college student from the Hill Country pursuing a college, university, trade school, or certificate program in healthcare, we encourage you to share this opportunity with them.
🗓 Deadline: March 31
Volunteer Appreciation Week Sponsorships are Back!
Volunteers are the driving force behind so many impactful programs in our communities. We’ve brought back this special initiative to help local nonprofits honor their volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 19-25, 2026. If your organization is making a difference in our communities, we invite you to apply for funding to support volunteer appreciation activities.
Wellness Center Update
32nd Annual Wildflower Run + Walk 5k | 10k
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Support our community and participate in the Create Healthy Wellness Center’s 32nd annual 5k and 10k through a scenic course around Fredericksburg. The course begins and ends at Markt Platz downtown where parking and restrooms are available.
Adult Learners Scholarships
Grants Update
2025 Fuel to the Fire Wrap-Up
Create Healthy extends its sincere thanks to the individuals, nonprofit leaders, and community members who made Fuel to the Fire possible. Through the initiative, Create Healthy awarded $270,000 in matching funds to 10 nonprofit organizations serving Gillespie, Llano, and Mason Counties and Comfort.
Grant Applications Open
Hill Country-area nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for grant funding from Create Healthy to support work in four areas:
- Mental health
- Early childhood development
- Healthy living
- Food security
- Health education
