HCA Healthcare Foundation Awards $25,000 to Waypoint to Expand the Network of Adults Supporting Youth Mental Wellness Across Virginia

Grant supports Waypoint's Therapeutic Resources team and its free Youth Mental Health First Aid and Community Resiliency Model trainings

Henrico, VA, Oct. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surrounded by adults learning to recognize and respond to youth mental health challenges, HCA Virginia leaders joined Waypoint, formerly Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, today to present a $25,000 grant from the HCA Healthcare Foundation that will help more Virginians become that support.  

Made in partnership with HCA Virginia and its Mental Wellness Colleague Network, the investment supports Waypoint's Therapeutic Resources team, which provides embedded mental health support to every young person on their 33-acre campus and leads free, monthly, Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Community Resiliency Model trainings. In FY25, the team trained more than 1,100 people across the state.  

"For more than 180 years, Waypoint has walked alongside young people at pivotal moments in their lives," said Christopher Finley, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at HCA Healthcare. "We believe healthier communities begin with people who are equipped to care for one another, and we are proud to help more adults across Virginia gain the skills to support young people." 

"Every young person deserves to feel seen, supported and understood," said Claiborne Warner, President & Chief Executive Officer of Waypoint. "We are deeply grateful to the HCA Healthcare Foundation. This investment helps us continue to grow the number of trusted adults who are ready to notice, care, and act when a young person needs support." 

Waypoint's free, eight-hour YMHFA workshop is designed for adults who work with, care for or support adolescents ages 12 to 18. Participants learn to understand common risk factors and apply a practical five-step action plan to provide initial support and connect young people with appropriate resources. The training includes certified facilitators, a participant workbook, and a certification valid for three years. 

Developed and overseen by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, YMHFA is an evidence-based public education program that emphasizes early intervention and reduces stigma, helping create environments where young people can seek help and thrive. 

The $25,000 grant is part of the HCA Healthcare Foundation's Healthier Tomorrow Fund, a $75 million community impact initiative that supports innovative programs addressing high-priority community needs, advancing health equity and improving health and well-being. 

# # # 

About HCA Virginia 

As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive provider network, HCA Virginia operates 13 hospitals, 26 outpatient centers, 10 freestanding emergency rooms, 13 urgent care centers, and is affiliated with over 3,100 physicians. The private hospital system is one of Virginia’s largest employers, provides more than $123 million in charity and uncompensated care, pays $383.4 million in state and local taxes annually and has $6.2 billion in economic impact on the Commonwealth each year. HCA Virginia hospitals include Chippenham, Henrico Doctors’, TriCities, Johnston-Willis, Parham Doctors’, Retreat Doctors’, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, LewisGale Medical Center, LewisGale Hospital Pulaski, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, LewisGale Hospital Alleghany, Reston Hospital Center and StoneSprings Hospital Center. 

About Waypoint (formerly Virginia Home for Boys and Girls) 

Waypoint (formerly Virginia Home for Boys and Girls) is a nonprofit organization that partners with young people seeking stability, belonging, and support as they navigate their lives. For young people without a safe place to stay, or who need a different kind of learning environment to succeed, the future can feel out of reach. Waypoint offers a way forward. Through an array of transitional living, specialized education, and advocacy programs, Waypoint offers personalized care to every young person who walks through our doors, while working beyond our campus to navigate the systemic roadblocks that too often hold youth back. For more information, visit waypointva.org. 

About HCA Healthcare Foundation 

The mission of the HCA Healthcare Foundation is to promote health and well-being and strive to make a positive impact in all the communities HCA Healthcare serves. We accomplish this mission by providing leadership, service and financial support to effective nonprofit organizations working individually and collectively. 

 

Press Inquiries

Amanda Kennedy
akennedy [at] waypointva.org
https://waypointva.org/

A video accompanying this announcement is available here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=kF0ctJJK-Cc