Foundation aids Camp Fire-stricken community through the Inspire Hope Project and other community aid initiatives
by Jacob Peterson
Since 1983, Adventist Health’s Feather River Health Foundation—the healthcare provider’s charitable wing—has played an important role in the Ridge community, helping those in need connect with essential assistance and resources. That role has expanded due to the community’s massive needs in the wake of the devastating Camp Fire.
“After the fire and losing the hospital, we still very much support our healthcare services through our clinics, and we are doing a lot more outreach throughout the community,” says Joleen Levey, executive director of philanthropy and community well-being for the foundation.
Levey, whose long history with Adventist Health goes back nearly three decades, says the fire and its aftermath led to the foundation rethinking its role in aiding the community.
This focus on community aid and outreach has taken the form of new project initiatives to better meet the current needs of the Ridge community. The focus of these initiatives range from promoting healthy eating to providing resources to help families rebuild.
“We partner with different organizations to support food insecurity and other issues,” Levey says, noting one ongoing effort is to establish a community garden in Paradise. “We are working within the community, bringing all of these partners together to help support all the work that’s being done.”
One outstanding example of these community aid-focused partnerships is the Inspire Hope Project, a collaboration between Adventist Health and World Vision, a religious nonprofit that works around the globe to provide aid to communities in need.
“For us, 90% of our work has been Camp Fire survivors and individuals that were affected one way or another.”
Joleen Levey, Executive Director of Philanthropy and Community Well-being, Feather River Health Foundation
“They go to anywhere that has experienced devastation, whether it’s from fires, floods, any type of disaster or large-scale destruction,” Levey said. “Their main focus is helping children and families.”
The Inspire Hope Project, which started in 2021, is focused on bringing resources to share with the community ranging from food to furniture, which are then distributed to non-profit partners to donate to the community.
“For us, 90% of our work has been with Camp Fire survivors and individuals that were affected by the fire in one way or another, getting them furniture and stuff for their homes,” Levey notes. “The rest goes to others in the area with unmet needs.”
The work is partly made possible by funding the foundation received through a grant from the North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF), Levey says, noting that funding has helped offset delivery costs and hire staff to manage the project.
“For about the first year, it was just myself, my husband, my family and any volunteers I could bring in running this,” Levey says. “So NVCF immediately said, ‘We see you, we know the work you’re doing is important, let us help.’”
Levey estimates roughly $11.7 million in resources has been provided through the program.
“Adventist Health brought this program and these resources to Butte County to help people who suffered because of the Camp Fire. Since then, of course, other disasters—including the Park Fire—have identified other individuals who have these same basic needs,” Levey says.
Inspired to Help
The Feather River Health Foundation partners with 77 active local organizations for the Inspire Hope Project. Jolene Levey, executive director of philanthropy and community well-being for the foundation, provided the following numbers to help quantify the good work being done. These numbers are as of mid-February, 2025.
Deliveries (trucks delivered):
- 2024: 27
- 2021 to date: 240
Total Value:
- 2024: $1,350,000
- 2021 to date: $12,000,000
Partner Pickups:
- 2024: 234
- Total to date: 763
Individuals Served:
- Adults: 2024: 64,977 / Total: 102,502
- Children: 2024: 9,520 / Total: 27,519
For more information about the Feather River Health Foundation, visit adventisthealth.org/feather-river/feather-river-health-foundation/.
