Providence Saint John’s Health Center announced $292,500 in grants this week to nonprofit community organizations that serve underprivileged populations including the mentally ill, the homeless and school children in low-income neighborhoods.
Receiving grant funding were the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District; the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica, Catholic Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Safe Place for Youth, Step Up on Second, Upward Bound House, St. Joseph Center, Saint Anne School, Santa Monica College Foundation – Guardian Scholars Program and Meals on Wheels West.
It is a goal of Providence Health & Services to help improve the health of the communities it serves, partnering with organizations to extend its reach in providing services based on needs assessments.
Under the partnerships with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and Saint Anne School, Providence will provide funding for school nurses to offer health care and support for vulnerable children. Other grants will cover a range of needs, including mental health care programs, youth fitness, a website upgrade and care for the homeless and the hungry.
In September, the hospital announced $345,000 in grants and will consider more requests next year. The grant process is overseen by a selection committee that includes physicians, board members, foundation board members and employees. As a faith-based, not-for-profit health care system, Providence invests proceeds from operations in programs to benefit communities it serves, based on its core strategy of Creating Healthier Communities, Together.
