On Monday, Atrium Health and Truist teamed up to announce a $5.05 million gift to the Atrium Health Foundation’s “Giving Hope” campaign. 

Giving Hope will fund several community-driven programs focused on improving health outcomes and economic mobility for “vulnerable” community members. 

“Our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” Truist Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers said in a press release. “Atrium Health’s mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing for all is very much in line with our purpose; together, I believe we truly can make a difference.”

The clinical-community partnership is a multi-million-dollar total will support five programs.

$4.5 million of it will fund three specific programs over the next three years, including:

• Two mobile medical units serving areas in Charlotte identified as high-risk for health issues, such as diabetes, will be on the streets starting this week. ​​Over the next three years, Atrium Health hopes to serve more than 8,700 community members through the two units, according to a press release from Truist. Anyone above two years old can be treated in the mobile units at no cost. 

• A community doulas program to address maternal mortality rates is supported by the funding. The program will train individuals to become doulas and then connect them to birthing women of color in underserved communities in Charlotte. The doula program is expected to begin training people next year. 

•  A STEM learning laboratory housed in Atrium Health’s “The Pearl” innovation district near Midtown will provide learning opportunities and training for middle and high school students from Title-I Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The lab will offer mentorship in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The remaining funds of $550,000 are designated to support two career-focused programs over the next three years, including opportunities for the formerly incarcerated and a pathways program.

The Truist Foundation plans to increase Atrium Health’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals by hiring 60 previously incarcerated individuals, providing a much-needed opportunity for long-term employment and lower recidivism rates.   

The Sterile Processing Career Pathways program will provide 150 entry-level Atrium Health employees with training to advance to higher positions. 

The goal of the two programs is to increase economic mobility and long-term employment opportunities for people predisposed to poverty.

“Together, Atrium Health and Truist are committed to improving access to health care and extending opportunities to build a productive workforce, for now, and in years to come,” said Heath Campbell, Metrolina regional president at Truist, in a press release. “By joining forces and leading with care, we hope to build a better Charlotte for all.”