Your Future Neighbor: Meet Allison Strickland

At Local70, we believe a strong community is built on people who care for one another. Access to quality healthcare—and the neighbors who help make it possible—matters deeply to how a place thrives.

In this installment of our Meet Your Future Neighbor series, we’re honored to introduce Allison Strickland, Director of the Johnston Health Foundation. Allison’s work sits at the intersection of compassion, access, and community investment—ensuring that healthcare in Johnston County is not only excellent, but available to everyone who needs it.

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What led you into healthcare philanthropy, and what drew you to your work with the Johnston Health Foundation?

"So I had been in philanthropy my entire career. I've always chosen to work for nonprofits, and it's really important to me because I believe that nonprofits really are the backbone of our community — they’re the organizations that help make sure people don’t fall through the gaps.

Certainly that’s what led me here to work in Johnston County. It was an opportunity to come back into the UNC Health system. Health care is something we all need, and it’s also one of the greatest expenses we personally have — and it shouldn’t be something that’s just available to people who can afford it. We have to do our part to make sure our neighbors are healthy. "

How would you describe the role community health plays in the overall quality of life in Johnston County?

"This is a community that really cares deeply about one another. Our hospital is a community hospital, and our foundation was built on community members wanting a way to invest in care locally.What’s great about healthcare philanthropy is that people want to make healthcare more accessible for others — and when we make the system stronger for the least among us, we’re also making it better for everyone. Everyone wants the best healthcare locally, and that’s what they’re supporting when they invest in the Johnston Health Foundation. One of the things that’s really special about our community is that we have a freestanding Hospice House — something a community our size doesn’t always have. We have it because community members wanted it to be possible, and it’s comforting to know people are cared for across their lifetime and not forgotten at that stage of life. "

Can you share a bit about the initiatives the Foundation focuses on and why they matter locally?

"Certainly. Part of our work is making healthcare more accessible to those who can’t afford it, and part of it is investing in equipment that’s needed. Several years ago, we embarked on a community-led campaign to bring 3D mammography across the county. The community raised $500,000 to purchase equipment for both Smithfield and Clayton, which was incredibly important. Through generous donations to our Heart Fund, we are able to cover the costs of wearable defibrillators for patients who are sent home while waiting for surgery. These units cost about $3,000 a month and aren’t always covered by insurance. Being able to provide that peace of mind while they’re waiting is huge.

One of the newer initiatives we’re excited about is an exercise program for cancer survivors called Get Real and Heal. It’s a 12-week program focused on exercise, nutrition, and peer support, helping people regain strength and a sense of normal after treatment. It’s free to participants and made possible through The Marvel Cancer Survivorship Fund. The hospital will always cover what’s medically necessary for treatment. Our role is to support people beyond treatment — and that’s where we want to come in."

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In your experience, how does access to strong healthcare and wellness resources shape a growing community?

"One of the strengths of our community is that we have two incredible hospitals — one in Clayton and one in Smithfield — and they’re growing through our partnership with UNC Health. UNC Health is investing $100 million in capital improvements to make sure we’re well resourced, not just for residents today but for those who will be here in the future. Specialized care close to home really matters, especially for people investing in a home or a community. They want to know their healthcare needs will be met — now and in the future.

I like to say UNC Health Johnston bakes the cake, and we ice the cake – providing the things that may not be essential but certainly makes care easier, more comfortable, and more supportive for patients and their families. "

What do you find most rewarding about working so closely with local partners and organizations?

"We’re in a unique position because the hospital is one of the largest employers in the county, and we’re able to invest in and partner with other nonprofits intentionally. For example, we partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Johnston County to provide free swim lessons during the summer at our health and wellness facility and provide free urgent care clinics at Johnston Community College. We look for natural ways to collaborate because we believe it’s part of our responsibility as a larger nonprofit to be a good community partner and neighbor."

As Johnston County continues to grow, what health-related needs or opportunities do you see becoming more important?

"We’re entering an exciting period of expansion. We’re adding a new patient tower at the Clayton hospital, expanding cardiology services in Smithfield, increasing capacity of our emergency departments.This growth allows the hospital to meet the needs of the community and continue expanding specialized care, as well as increasing access to primary care physicians."

What would you want new residents to understand about the healthcare resources and community support available here?

"We have great healthcare here. There’s no need to go anywhere else — from new babies to seniors in their final stages of life, we’re here to walk alongside people on their healthcare journey.

We’re part of a community that believes healthcare shouldn’t be for some, it should be for all. Our foundation was built on neighbors taking care of neighbors."

The Johnston Health Foundation reflects what makes this community special—neighbors investing in neighbors and care that supports people at every stage of life.

We’re grateful for leaders like Allison who help strengthen the health, resilience, and future of Smithfield and Johnston County.