Winter Park Health Foundation history actually began in 1951 when a group of far-sighted local residents joined forces to build a community hospital.

The group established the Winter Park Memorial Hospital Association (WPMHA) and it was successful. The doors to Winter Park Memorial Hospital opened in 1955 and it continues to expand in size and services providing the community with first class health care.

For nearly 40 years, WPMHA operated the hospital, broadening its trusted role of tending to the community’s expanding health care needs. In 1994, the Association forged a partnership with Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation to manage and co-own the hospital. Winter Park Memorial Hospital continued to thrive, and the Association looked outward to address health and wellness needs of area residents through community outreach services and facilities.

The Association became the Winter Park Health Foundation, initially focused on operating the Peggy & Philip B. Crosby Wellness Center, developing and opening the Elinor & T. William Miller, Jr. Center for Older Adult Services, and the provision of a wide variety of outreach programs.  In 2000, WPHF sold its remaining interest in Winter Park Memorial Hospital, the hospital became part of AdventHealth, and the Foundation became an independent, private foundation.

Today, we strive to build healthier communities (Winter Park and surrounding communities including Maitland and Eatonville) through a creative mix of grants, initiatives, programs and facilities.  As a long-trusted leader addressing health and health care issues, the Foundation is recognized as a catalyst for community health research and collaboration.

2019 was a very special year marking 25 years of serving the community as the Winter Park Health Foundation.  Major milestones included the opening of the Center for Health & Wellbeing on April 29^th.  The state-of-the-art, unique healthy living center focuses on improving quality of life by bringing Wholeness, Fitness and Medicine together in one convenient location.  Six months later, on October 29^th at its anniversary celebration, the Foundation announced three commemorative grants for special projects in the communities of Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville.

Click here for videos to see highlights from the Winter Park Health Foundation’s first 25 years, and to learn about its 25^th Anniversary Grant Projects.

The Winter Park Health Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. In commemoration of another important milestone, WPHF underwent a year-long special funding initiative, the Well Together Grant Awards Challenge. Learn more about the innovative way we awarded $300,000 to five local nonprofit partner organizations here.