Executive Director of CVHN Receives Young Alumni Achievement Award

Zach Billingsley, executive director at Children's Volunteer Health Network was chosen as the Young Alumni Achievement Award winner by the Huntingdon College National Alumni Association. This award honors the early successes and distinguished achievements of a nominated alumni who is 35 years of age or younger.

Billingsley relocated to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, to work for Coastal Bank and Trust after graduating from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, with a degree in business administration and playing four years on the Hawks baseball team. He progressed to commercial banker in the bank's Destin, Florida, office and there he began to volunteer for Children's Volunteer Health Network (CVHN). Inspired by his experience as a volunteer and CVHN's mission, he joined the board of directors in 2007. In 2010, he left the banking industry to become the executive director of CVHN and currently resides in Santa Rosa Beach with his wife, Hannah, and two children.

With more than 60% of families in the area having no dental insurance, the need for dental care has grown significantly. In 2011, Billingsley secured a grant to fund the re-purposing of an existing building into a state-of-the-art, three-chair dental clinic, where care is provided at no cost to uninsured and under-insured children. In April 2012, the CVHN Dental Clinic opened its doors. Later that year, the 'Just for Grins' Mobile Dental Clinic traveled to the annual Sapphire Awards Symposium and Presentation hosted by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation in Orlando and was one of three grantees invited to be showcased as a leader in exceptional practices in Mobile Health. In September 2012, the CVHN Dental Clinic began to accept Medicaid to continue working towards a solution to the overwhelming dental needs in the community and the limited number of dental providers that accept Medicaid.

"Zach's passion for the CVHN mission is evident in his dedication and the love he has for the children we serve. He leads with integrity and heart and inspires all who have the pleasure of meeting this gentleman. This recognition by his alma mater is truly deserved," said Tricia Carlisle-Northcutt, CVHN Founder.

Billingsley has focused on efficiency and production since taking the helm at CVHN. The organization now spends 94 cents of every dollar on programs and has facilitated more than 13,000 medical, dental, vision and mental health care appointments since inception.

CVHN Executive Director, Zach Billingsley (center, with National Alumni Board President Mary K. McGuffrey and President J. Cameron West), awarded Young Alumni Achievement Award by the Huntingdon College National Alumni Association.
 

About Children's Volunteer Health Network, Inc. (CVHN)
Children's Volunteer Health Network, Inc., HEALTHY HAPPY KIDS, is a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization, established in 2005 in response to Walton and Okaloosa County's large population of low income families who are unable to access high quality health services due to the unavailability (or inadequacy) of insurance. CVHN seeks to enhance the lives of uninsured and underinsured school-aged children by facilitating free, immediate access to medical, dental, vision and mental health services by utilizing a network of over 95 local physicians, dentists and healthcare providers. CVHN also operates the 'Just for Grins' Mobile Dental Clinic that visits local elementary schools and opened the CVHN Dental Clinic in 2012. CVHN has facilitated more than 13,000 medical, dental, vision and mental healthcare procedures since inception.