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When Karen Popovich was invited to the 2026 Spring Fling at S.P. Morton Elementary School in Franklin, Virginia, she didn’t hesitate to accept. Having recently moved here, it was an opportunity to spend meaningful time with her granddaughter, Kyla, and to feel more connected to a community she’s still getting to know.

In a rural area where access to transportation and healthcare can be limited, this annual event doesn't just bring people together. It brings essential resources where local organizations and community leaders collaborate to offer school supplies, health screenings, entertainment and more.

During the event, school classrooms were transformed into an interactive health hub, brought to life with a colorful, Candy Land–inspired theme. Sponsored by �������� (��������) Community Care — a nurse-led, student-run initiative of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at �������� — the experience invites families to move from station to station engaging in conversations with nursing students and faculty on topics like nutrition, dental care, blood pressure and diabetes prevention.

Children asked questions, parents leaned in and learning felt less like a lesson and more like a fun experience.

For the Lopez family, attending with their three young daughters for a second year, the impact is both immediate and lasting.

“My daughter, Laila, is actually thinking about becoming a nurse,” shared Michelle Lopez. “Seeing the nursing students and staff here inspired her. She’s not only thinking about her own health, but also about how to help others.”

This kind of response is what fuels the work.

Since its founding in 2021, the program has worked to bring compassionate, community-based healthcare directly to underserved communities. After expanding to Franklin and Southampton County in 2023, the team has continued to grow its reach through a mobile clinic, school-based care and other community events.

Earlier this year, �������� Community Care received a $200,000 annual grant from the Obici Healthcare Foundation over the next three years, representing a $600,000 investment to support expanded services across the Western Tidewater region.

“First and foremost, this partnership is in great alignment with Amedeo Obici’s vision for our Foundation, especially when it comes to increasing access to care and eliminating barriers,” said R. Battle Betts, Jr., president and CEO of the Obici Healthcare Foundation.

For more than 20 years, the Obici Healthcare Foundation has focused on strengthening the healthcare safety net through prevention, capacity building and community engagement grants. Work that depends on strong collaboration, Betts emphasizes.

“At the core of everything, I’m a firm believer in partnerships and relationships,” Betts said, “When organizations, community groups and nonprofit networks work together, it strengthens community spirit and creates momentum. There’s a lot of powerful synergy in this partnership. The goal is to connect people to care earlier, as this gives us a much better chance of catching health issues before they become more serious.”

�������� Community Care partners with Paul D. Camp Community College to provide hands-on learning opportunities to their first-year nursing students, helping these future healthcare professionals gain valuable experience, while serving their community. Funding from this grant supports the expansion of this partnership and bolsters workforce development efforts.

“This partnership has allowed us to impact the nursing workforce both inside the hospital and outside of it,” shared Angela Sheaffer, D.N.P., R.N., dean of nursing and allied health at Paul D. Camp Community College. “With a significant shortage of bedside nurses and many experienced nurses retiring, this collaboration supports continued development of students to help provide a workforce solution.”

"We are sincerely thankful to the Obici Healthcare Foundation for their trust, partnership and shared commitment to improving the health of our communities,” said Tammy Speerhas, D.N.P., FNP-C, chief operating officer of �������� Community Care. “Their investment allows us to continue delivering meaningful, compassionate care while expanding opportunities for education, prevention and workforce development. We are deeply grateful for their support and the difference it will make for the individuals and families we serve.”

Through partnerships with local schools, organizations and supporters like the Obici Healthcare Foundation, the University’s outreach program continues to expand access to care, while also investing in the next generation of healthcare leaders. These partnerships have also opened doors to additional funding resources.

“We have also secured philanthropic funding from the Camp Foundation and the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, and we continue to actively pursue additional funding opportunities to build on the momentum of our initiatives in the Western Tidewater region,” shared Jessica Parrott, D.N.P., APRN, director of the pediatric nurse practitioner program at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at ��������.

These efforts are all about the human connections created. A grandmother embracing her new community. A child discovering curiosity about health. A young student ready to serve her community as a nurse.

For Popovich, the day was full of meaningful experiences and valuable resources. Surrounded by dozens of families, laughter and learning, she felt the true impact that only events like this can create.

“It makes us feel valued,” she said, “and that makes all the difference.”