Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Honored for Health Leadership, Community Partnership

May 1, 2026

Each year, the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) honors organizations across the state for innovative and forward-thinking health initiatives that advance community health. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is proud to announce it was chosen for the 2026 Community Health Leadership Award for its Food Systems Initiative, addressing food insecurity and promoting equitable food access across the Puget Sound region.

“Washington hospitals play a critical role in improving health, even beyond their walls,” said Cassie Sauer, WSHA President and CEO. “VMFH leaders are showing us how providers can partner with their communities to address food insecurity and improve health outcomes.”

VMFH's Food Systems Initiative aims to integrate nutritious food access into health care delivery, understanding that access to healthy food is a determinant of community well-being.

“At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we are dedicated to addressing fundamental needs for health and dignity in our communities,” said Julie Manas, President of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and CommonSpirit Health’s Northwest Region. “By providing access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food through collaborative and innovative food programs, we strengthen community health, help prevent chronic conditions, and empower our neighbors to thrive.”

Key components and impacts of VMFH's Food Systems Initiative include:

Medically Tailored Food Boxes: This program, launched as a pilot in 2023, provides specially curated food boxes to VMFH patients managing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Initial results from participating patients show:

• A 61% decrease in hospital admissions
• A 75% decrease in emergency department visits
• 60% reported improved diet quality

The program began in Tacoma's Heart Failure Clinic and has since expanded to serve 220 patients across clinics in Pierce and Kitsap counties. Deliveries contain lean meats, fresh produce, whole grains, and low-sodium items, sourced from Cascadia Produce and distributed by partners such as Emergency Food Network and South Kitsap Helpline. Currently, work is underway to launch the program in South King County.

Edible Food Recovery: VMFH's food recovery program delivers meals that might otherwise go to waste from its facilities to local nonprofit organizations.

• The program began at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma in July 2023, diverting over 1,600 pounds of food and providing nearly 1,500 meals in its first year to organizations including St. Leo’s Food Connection and Tacoma Rescue Mission. In King County, the edible food recovery program has provided meals to Mary's Place and Tent City 3, with additional partners joining this year through Eat Happy Now.

• Grants from the City of Seattle and King County have allowed VMFH to expand the edible food recovery program. In 2026, VMFH began working with Replate to implement edible food recovery, allowing VMFH to serve more local nonprofits. Cumulatively, the initiative has rescued over 5,300 meals and diverted more than 6,500 pounds of food from landfills.

Culturally Relevant Food Systems: VMFH collaborates with over 40 food banks across the Puget Sound to enhance the cultural relevance of food distributed to diverse populations. This involves providing resources and direct partnerships to help food banks offer items that align with community preferences.

SNAP Enrollment Support: VMFH assists patients with enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) within its clinics. Efforts include integrating SNAP enrollment into other program sign-ups, such as Medicaid. VMFH clinics will become designated Washington Connection Partners to streamline access to benefits. To date, VMFH has referred over 77,000 patients for nutrition assistance support.

Local Initiatives: VMFH extends its commitment through community-specific programs:

• Produce Coupon Programs: Through St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, VMFH provides coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets for children and seniors. VMFH has invested $10,000 in this program this year.

• Mobile Markets: In partnership with FareStart, a mobile market operates at VMFH's Franciscan Medical Clinic in Burien, offering low-cost produce to staff, patients, and the wider community. The market accepts produce vouchers, SNAP, credit, and debit cards.

The WSHA Community Health Leadership Award acknowledges VMFH's efforts to integrate food security into community health strategies, contributing to healthier outcomes across the Puget Sound region.

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people.

About Washington State Hospital Association

The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) represents more than 100 hospitals and health systems across Washington. WSHA works to improve the health of all Washingtonians by providing leadership and support to members.