Kaiser Permanente Awards $635,400 to Local Non-Profit and Public Agencies

Kaiser Permanente in the Diablo Area is proud to announce its 2013 grantees. The grants, totaling more than $600,000, will provide financial support to local nonprofit, public health, and human service organizations that serve vulnerable communities.

Diablo Area grants are made to organizations serving East and Central Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley Area of Alameda County and are for one year. Each of the grants will support one of the following objectives: increasing access to health insurance coverage and health care services; reducing obesity rates and improving adolescent health.

There are 47 grants being distributed to 42 local non-profit and public agencies.

Among the highlights:

In Central Contra Costa County, $277,500 in grant funding to 19 organizations will help the community. Among them:

·        The Monument Crisis Center will use funding to support an increased provision of fresh produce for their food pantry program.

·      RotaCare Bay Area Inc. will use grant funding to purchase medical equipment for a new mobile clinic that provides free health services to low-income, uninsured residents of Concord’s Monument neighborhood.

·      Funding will also allow the Michael Chavez Center for Economic Development to develop training around the Community Health Promotor program in the Monument neighborhood of Concord.

In East County, 28 organizations will be using $370,000 in grant funding to help the community. Among them:

·        The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will use their funding to provide free fresh fruit and vegetables for families of students attending after-school programs at schools in low-income neighborhoods.

·        Funding will allow St. Vincent de Paul RotaCare Clinic to provide one night a week of free primary and urgent care services to low-income uninsured adults.

·        Todos Unidos will use grant funding to support a walking program for elementary school students in Antioch.

In the Tri-Valley, $164,000 in grant funding will help the community. Thirteen organizations received funding. Among them:

·    Axis Community Health, will use their funding to support patient service specialists who will help patients secure or maintain health coverage through public programs.

·     A unique Fútsal scholarship program at Junction Avenue K-8 School will also receive funding through the Bay Area Community Services/East Bay Youth & Family Services.

·    Open Heart Kitchen will use their funding to fund a weekend box meal program for low-income children in the Tri-Valley.

“Kaiser Permanente has a strong commitment to help improve the health of the communities we serve," said Marianne Balin, community benefit manager for Kaiser Permanente in the Diablo Area. “Healthy communities benefit us all and we are grateful for these grantees and the dedication they too have to our community. Working together we can have a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of many people.”

For more information on Kaiser Permanente’s Community Benefit Program, visit: http://info.kaiserpermanente.org/communitybenefit/