Legendary, legacy and mission.  

These words were repeated throughout the reception for healthcare trailblazer Villie Appoo, former executive with Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, now known as Affinia Healthcare.  

Appoo’s accomplishments were highlighted at the Women’s History Month Inspiring Legacy Award ceremony at the health center’s Biddle Street location. The ceremony was co-hosted by Affinia Healthcare and the Affinia Healthcare Foundation. 

Staff and former colleagues spoke of Ms. Appoo’s legendary work ethic, integrity, fairness, and commitment to the community. Originally from India, Appoo earned her bachelor’s degrees in Bombay before coming to the U.S. to pursue her master’s degree in social work at Washington University in St. Louis. She joined Grace Hill in 1985 and among her many accomplishments include establishing the Unhoused services offering, providing care and support to the city’s homeless. Appoo also launched healthcare programs targeted for the public housing residents in the 63106 and 63104 ZIP codes.  

“I’ve never had the pleasure of working with you, but the standard of care that you set for the unhoused is amazing,” said DeAndre Commons, Unhoused Case Manager. “That’s why I work the way that I do to make sure the unhoused individuals are taken care of.” 

As Grace Hill’s Managing Director for Primary Care, Appoo secured $1.3 million to develop key health initiatives for the unhoused and public housing residents, and established health centers in the Water Tower and Soulard neighborhoods.  

Appoo would eventually work her way up to Executive Vice President, Planning and Development, where she continued to help grow and expand the organization. Some of the initiatives she championed and established during her time at Grace Hill include partnerships with the Salvation Army and St. Patrick Center as well as her work to expand behavioral health care services including the Child Development Center. After leaving Grace Hill in 2008, Appoo went on to serve as the chief executive officer for the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, a position she held for nine years.  

Appoo, when presented with her award, thanked the team she worked with at Grace Hill for their support and collaboration. 

“You really can’t have accomplishments unless you have shared visions, a shared mission, shared values and teamwork,” Appoo said when accepting her award. “None of this is the doing of one person. It’s a team effort. I thank all the people, all my colleagues who worked with me.” 

When Dr. Kendra Holmes started her career at Grace Hill as a pharmacist, it was Appoo who interviewed her. Holmes says she was a little intimidated at first by the diminutive powerhouse, but it was her leadership that made an impact on her career and will always consider Appoo as a friend and mentor.   

“Villie is really the foundation for this organization,” Dr. Holmes, now Affinia Healthcare President & CEO, stated. “I know [Villie] says that it’s the team, but there’s always a leader. And if there really is one person that I can point to for the entire organization, Villie, it is you.”