Women Who Inspire: A Storied History and a Bright Future

Who We Are: Women Leaders and Innovators

We come together to foster change and empower one another.

The Village Improvement Association (VIA) of Doylestown is a women-led non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the quality of life in Central Bucks County and the surrounding areas through a range of community-based initiatives.

Since our founding in 1895, the VIA has expanded beyond our legacy in health services to support a myriad of community programs:

• Offering one-time grants for community efforts
• Educational scholarships
• Professional development focused on health-related career pathways and women’s career growth
• Support for those in our community with emergency needs, including veterans, senior citizens, and other underserved populations

Our all-women, all-volunteer organization supports a full suite of community programs by spearheading fundraising, leadership, and civic engagement initiatives. Embracing our open-arms approach to impact in this new era of growth, we proudly support a variety of worthy causes and organizations to make a difference for our neighbors and our community.

Mission:

The VIA’s central mission is to support and enhance the health and well-being of central Bucks County and surrounding communities through volunteerism, philanthropy, and advocacy.

Our History: From Roots in Health Services to Broad Community Support

We proudly celebrate our history of giving and our bright future that lies ahead.

A Snapshot of Our Historic Milestones

April 26, 1895: Concerned by the dusty conditions of Bucks County roads causing local residents various health issues, fourteen women decided something needed to be done. On this fateful day, they gathered to form the Village Improvement Association (VIA) of Doylestown and dedicated its mission to enhancing the quality of life in Bucks County. In its early years, the VIA focused on eliminating dust in the streets and established the first visiting nurse service of Doylestown.

1923: The dedicated women of the VIA founded the Doylestown Emergency Hospital at Pine and Oakland Streets.

1939: The community’s growing health needs prompted a relocation of the hospital to a new 21-bed facility on Belmont and Spruce Streets.

1951: A major expansion increased the Belmont Avenue hospital location’s capacity to 54 beds.

1975: The current 165-bed hospital facility on West State Street was officially dedicated (and marks where the hospital still stands today).

2015: The VIA Health system officially rebranded as Doylestown Health to reflect its expansive network of inpatient, outpatient, and community services.

2023: Doylestown Hospital celebrated its 100-year anniversary, marking a century of VIA-governed community care.

2025: Following Doylestown Hospital’s transition to Penn Medicine, the VIA welcomed a new chapter dedicated to fully embracing and building on our broadened approach to community service.

Today: The VIA has grown to over 240 members and expanded our mission to foster actionable change in the Bucks County community through fundraising, leadership, and civic engagement. With a range of committees focused on distinct areas of service and a vibrant membership of driven women, the VIA is committed to an open-arms approach to supporting our community in all facets – guided by the core values of our founders: health, wellness, and quality of life. Discover how you can help us make a difference in this exciting new chapter.

Our Leadership

Annual Report

Turning inspiration into action.

Learn how we support our initiatives to turn inspiration into meaningful action.

Our Annual Report provides information about the VIA, including details regarding our finances and our work to support the health and well-being of our community.

Download and review our latest report.