The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has announced a $3 million gift from the Legacy Foundation of Central Wisconsin in support of a partnership to improve the health and wellness of communities in South Wood County.

The gift will endow a professorship in population health — the study of interrelated conditions and factors that influence the health of a group of individuals, often in a geographic area, over the course of their lives. The partnership also will provide students with hands-on learning experiences while enabling South Wood County communities to strengthen the capacity of local health agencies and gain access to UW-Stevens Point faculty with expertise in related fields, including nutrition, nursing, rehabilitation, human services and family studies, physical education, health education, health economics, data analytics, and social work.

In addition to the Legacy Foundation and UW-Stevens Point, the partnership includes Wood County Health Department, Aspirus Riverview Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Wisconsin Rapids Public School District, Port Edwards Public School District, and Nekoosa Public School District.

"The Legacy Foundation of Central Wisconsin exists to improve the health and well-being of our communities," said Legacy Foundation executive director Michael Bovee. "This partnership will help align our efforts and resources with those of local schools and universities, health care providers and government agencies. Working together we can accomplish great things."