February 1, 2016—The Fauquier Health Foundation, a grantmaking organization located in Warrenton, Va., announced today that it has a new name, a new look, and more than $2.5 million in grant funding for small and large community projects in 2016. The new name is the PATH Foundation, which stands for Piedmont Action to Health. Watch our video about the change.

“We are very excited to announce this new name and identity,” stated Christy Connolly president and CEO of the PATH Foundation.  “We believe the name now more accurately expresses what we do and the multiple entities and communities we serve.”

The organization became a charitable grantmaking foundation in 2013 through a joint venture between Fauquier Health and LifePoint Hospitals, and it serves Fauquier, Rappahannock and northern Culpeper Counties.  Focused on grants and initiatives to enhance health and vitality, the PATH Foundation has an endowment of $200 million.

“In the past two years, we have made incredible strides as we transitioned from a fundraising organization to a grantmaking organization.  We felt changing the name was an important step, making the name match the mission,” said John McCarthy, Chairman of the PATH Foundation Board of Directors.

Community support for 2016 comes in the area of $1 million in grantmaking – $250,000 designated for Make it Happen grants available on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, and $750,000 for annual grants.  Applications for annual grants are currently under review, with no new applications being accepted at this time.

The remaining $1.5 million of support for the area will come throughout the year as new initiatives and programs are announced.  $100,000 is allocated for the third year in a row to the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation’s May 3 Give Local Piedmont campaign.

About the Logo

The PATH Foundation was fortunate to have been selected by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, a preeminent brand design firm headquartered in New York City, as the client for an honors class in visual design at the School of Visual Arts, also located in New York City. The college-level class, Corporate Identity and Design, consists of students invited to participate based on their academic achievements.

Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv is known for designing some of the most recognized trademarks in the world, including National Geographic, Chase Bank, NBC, PBS, Mobil Oil, Showtime Networks and Barney’s New York.  Most recently, they designed logos for the Library of Congress, and Harvard University Press.  The National Archives in Washington, DC, was the previous client selected for the class.

Over the course of the semester, students worked with the firm’s principals, along with PATH Foundation representatives, to create unique visual identities that represent the mission, vision and culture of the PATH Foundation.

“All of us are delighted by the work that our Fall 2015 students accomplished,” said Sagi Haviv, one of the design firm’s principals. “It was an especially talented group of young designers, and the design problem brought to the class inspired great work.  The final trademark the foundation chose, a beautiful hand-drawn mark by Bernise Wong, was one of the many terrific designs.  Bernise’s logo will be very effective to identify the PATH Foundation in its various communications for many years to come.”

The new logo design reflects the many varied groups, projects and initiatives supported by the PATH Foundation.  The individually drawn droplets create a path that works its way to the center, showing collaboration.  Said Connolly, “Visually this represents what we are doing everyday – coming together with individuals, organizations and local government to make our area a healthier place to live, work and play.”

“The PATH Foundation board and staff felt very fortunate to have been selected to work with such an esteemed agency and with such accomplished students,” said McCarthy.

“We were extremely impressed with the results that these exceptionally creative students and their mentors created,” added Connolly.  “We believe that this new look and name will put us on a solid path for a bright future with the communities we serve.”

About the PATH Foundation

With a legacy of community philanthropy stretching back to 1954, Piedmont Action to Health (PATH) Foundation was created in 2013, as the Fauquier Health Foundation, through a joint venture between Fauquier Health and LifePoint Hospitals. The resulting foundation manages the assets of this multigenerational gift to promote healthy communities today and in stewardship for our children’s grandchildren.