Mary Washington Healthcare announced Wednesday that executive Xavier Richardson received the Community Changemaker Award from Nimali Fernando, founder of the Dr. Yum Project.
Richardson, the chief development officer and president of Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital Foundations, is a long-time supporter of the Dr. Yum Project, which helps families and communities overcome barriers to healthy eating habits.
Richardson was instrumental in providing the guidance needed in fulfilling the project’s vision of making its website a resource that community physicians can share with their patients. DrYum.org is now available to healthcare providers in 32 states and four countries.
“This reflects Xavier’s dedication to serving and uplifting the communities we are privileged to be a part of,” MWHC President and CEO Mike McDermott said. “We thank Xavier for his commitment to fostering healthier, happier communities for generations to come.”
Richardson, a Fredericksburg native, is responsible for MWHC’s community benefit efforts and legislative affairs. He is the founder and executive director of The Partnership for Academic Excellence which has assisted more than 7,000 minority students over the past 32 years in their quest for a college education. He is also well-known in the community for his mentoring work with young adults.
Richardson, a graduate of Princeton University and the Harvard Business School, is a member of numerous local, state, and national boards. He is also the charter president of the Fredericksburg Education Foundation. The City of Fredericksburg proclaimed April 24, 2021, Xavier Richardson Day, in honor of his numerous contributions to the greater Fredericksburg region.
For the past 10 years, the Dr. Yum Project has taught pediatricians, preschool teachers, and parents how to eat healthier.
“Xavier Richardson’s unwavering support has been instrumental in propelling The Dr. Yum Project forward and fostering its impact in promoting children’s health and nutrition,” Fernando said. “His dedication to our mission has truly been a cornerstone in our journey towards creating healthier communities in Virginia and beyond.”
Mary Washington Healthcare, an individual or organization central to this story, is a major donor to the Free Press. Donors do not influence newsroom operations.
