SANTA ROSA -- Kaiser Permanente said it has given grants totaling $400,000 to 30 local nonprofits as a means of improving the health of communities in Marin and Sonoma counties.
"These grants will have a positive and significant impact on community health,” said Judy Coffey, senior vice president and manager for Kaiser Permanente's Marin-Sonoma area. “Partnering with others is another way we help transform neighborhoods and communities into healthier places.”
A local needs assessment helped determine the priority areas for funding, prior to awarding the grants. This, according to Kaiser, allowed its community investment teams at the San Rafael and Santa Rosa medical centers to evaluate requests from a variety of local nonprofit organizations.
This year's funding priorities for Kaiser include increasing access to health insurance coverage and health care services; decreasing excess weight and obesity; preventing alcohol, tobacco and other substance abuse; creating a sustainable safety net; fighting breast cancer; and improving oral health.
The funding range for each grant in Marin and Sonoma counties was $5,000 to $40,000.
Grant recipients include:Agricultural Institute of MarinAlliance Medical Center, which has locations in Windsor and HealdsburgBay Area Community Resources in Marin CountyCalifornia Parenting Institute in Santa RosaCanal Alliance in San RafaelCenter for Domestic Peace in San RafaelCoastal Health Alliance in West Marin CountyCouncil on Aging Services for Seniors in Santa RosaHealdsburg Farm MarketJewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert ParkJewish Family & Children's ServicesLIFT for TeensMarin AIDS ProjectMarin Bicycle CoalitionMarin Center for Independent LivingMarin School Environmental LeadershipNovato Youth CenterPediatric Dental InitiativePetaluma BountyRedwood Empire Food BankSanta Rosa Community Health CentersSanta Rosa Farmers MarketSenior Advocacy ServicesSonoma County Adult and Youth DevelopmentSonoma County Department of Health ServicesSouthwest Community Health Centers in Santa RosaSutter Family Medicine Residency in Santa RosaWest County Health Centers in West Sonoma CountyWest Marin Senior ServicesYWCA
The grants are in addition to the recent $1 million Kaiser Permanente Healthy Eating Active Living grant to fight obesity in Santa Rosa.
