Versacare’s roots were founded in the oversight of Hospitals and health care facilities, providing health care for thousands of people annually.  Currently, the Versacare Board oversees the management of their assets as well as income derived from the Care Center operations.  The grant activities are carried out through The Versafund, which annually distributes Grants to various supporting ministries and other qualified organizations, primarily within the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination.

“It is the purpose of Versacare to serve humanity by engaging in activities that will further the kingdom of God and restore the "Image of God" in man. Based on Biblical principles, they understand the "Image of God" to include human health, fulfillment, and the search for knowledge.”

Versacare is particularly interested in funding education and Healthcare initiatives.  Below are inspiring testimonials from some of the 30 schools across our division who were awarded the grant in 2016.

 

Mills River SDA School

Mills River SDA School was elated to receive a $5,000 reward for robotics. We purchased 4 EV3 robots from Lego, and 5 transformer tablets/PCs. This gave the students the ability to program in close proximity to the robots. A portion of the funds went to sign up our students for the Southern Union Robotics League Tournament and buying the mat and table to complete the Animal Allies missions. The funds gave us the opportunity to start computer programming and engineer type problem solving in a fun and engaging way. It was inspiring to our group to participate academically at the tournament with students from across the Southern Union.

 

Thanks for this opportunity!

 

Sue Holt, Head Teacher

Mills River SDA School

Mills River, NC

 

 

Pine Tree Academy

Pine Tree Academy was blessed to be one of the recipients of the Versacare Grant during the 2015-2016 school year.  The school had been trying, for some time, to transition from a stationary lab to a mobile one.  The goal was to free up space in the school building, as well as bring the technology up-to-date.  With the grant money, the school was able to purchase 30 Chromebooks and a heavy-duty transporting cart.  One student was recently quoted as saying, “These computers have really enhanced our school program.”

 

Janel Tyson, Principal

Pine Tree Academy

Freeport, ME

 

 

Savannah Adventist
Christian School

Savannah Adventist Christian School, a PK -10th grade school and Early Childhood Center, was    blessed to receive a $10,000 Versacare Technology grant. The funds were used to upgrade our classroom projectors to Epson Bright-Link interactive projectors for our elementary and high school classrooms. Due to a strange fluke between the manufacturer and the retailer, we got a significant discount, which freed about $3500 for iPads for Kindergarten and new hard drives for our high school computer classroom, as well as software for those computers. What a blessing the Versacare grant was for our school!

 

Esther Martinez, Principal/Teacher

Savannah Adventist Christian School

Savannah, Georgia

 

 

Atlanta North School

Atlanta North School was the recipient of a $10,000 grant from Versacare.  With momentous appreciation, we purchased two mobile storage and charging carts for 24 laptops each, and 34 Google Chromebook laptops with two-year warranties and educational management for each computer. With the combination of fundraising and the Versacare grant, we now have 72 Chromebook laptops with wifi connectivity throughout the school. They are used continuously throughout the school day by the students and teachers alike for individual learning and group activities.

The Atlanta North School community gives a grateful “thank you” to Versacare for sharing with our school the valuable technology tools for the growth of our students in preparation for high school and beyond.

 

Dr. Bev Amlaner, Principal

Atlanta North School

Dunwoody, GA

 

 

Highland Elementary School

Highland Elementary School used the grant monies to purchase the following: 20 iPad minis 2, each of the iPad minis came with a 3 year Apple Care contract; a MacBook Air so that the classroom teacher could manage the student’s iPads; two multi-Charger-X to charge, sync, and store 10 iPads each; and finally, 20 screen protectors and 20 shockproof silicone protective case covers.  The remaining monies have been allocated for purchasing educational apps.  All of the technology purchased has been used to enhance learning in our 7th and 8th grade classroom.

 

Matthew Pacer, Principal

Highland Elementary School

Portland, TN

 

 

Chinook Winds Adventist Academy

 Chinook Winds Adventist Academy was thrilled to receive an Education Technology Grant from Versacare. This grant allowed us to purchase 25 iPads for our elementary students and complete Stage 8 of our CWAA Technology Integration Plan (to provide one-to-one digital access inside the classroom to our iGeneration learners). The iPads will be used by our students to solve problems, design and create new knowledge, pose new problems, address issues, build on each other’s ideas, and communicate their knowledge in a unique way. We are grateful for the generous investment in our students! Thank you Versacare!

 

Lara Melashenko, Principal

Chinook Winds Adventist Academy

Calgary, AB Canada

 

 

North Dallas Adventist Academy

North Dallas Adventist Academy (NDAA) believes we must teach students both how to use technology and how to be responsible citizens in that space. Through the technology grant from Versacare Inc., North Dallas Adventist Academy implemented a 1:1 iPad Program in the Upper School (grades 9-12), used for digital textbooks and electronic assignment management. In the next phase, we will expand 1:1 iPads into the Middle School (grades 6-8), and introduce MacBooks into the Upper School, while increasing elective class offerings from digital media creation and video production to include computer programming and coding courses.

 

Leona Harder, Office of Development

North Dallas Adventist Academy

Richardson, TX

 

 

Tappahannock Junior Academy

Tappahannock Junior Academy was very blessed to receive 2 Versacare Grants this past school year.

One of the Versacare Grants was for our Technology program which allowed us to purchase 9 PC’s along with Microsoft Office Pro Plus computer software for each computer.  TJA has been working on bringing our Technology up to date.

We also received a Versacare Grant for a 5K Kirsten Memorial Color Run.  Kirsten Wolcott was a former student who served as a Student Missionary to Yap.  During her time there, she lost her life.  The family had been having Kirsten Memorial 5K walk in honor of Kirsten, but after the Five year anniversary of their daughter’s death, the walks ended.  I spoke to the family and told them I wanted to sponsor a 5K Kirsten Memorial Color Run in honor of their daughter.  They agreed and when we received the grant, plans began.

It was a HUGE success.  We had about 60 – 70 people who participated in the Color Run.   Kirsten was an advocate for exercise, so in her honor, we held our 1st Kirsten Memorial Color Run.

 

Kimberly Peterson, Head Teacher

Tappahannock Junior Academy

Tappahannock, VA