(Santa Rosa, Calif. – July 12, 2016) St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County today announced that, as part of
its new Community Grantmaking program, it awarded grants to nonprofit
agencies serving needy residents across Sonoma County. “We have
a tradition of giving back to support the most vulnerable,” says
Terri Dente, Vice President of Mission Integration. “Our hospitals
tithe 10% of net income every year and we set aside those funds for good
work in the community.” Between the Community Grantmaking program
and other grants, St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County awarded $877,500
to 21 nonprofit agencies in Sonoma County this fiscal year.
The integrated healthcare delivery system, which operates Santa Rosa Memorial
Hospital and Petaluma Valley Hospital, as well as outpatient care facilities,
has long offered programs and services to the underserved in the county,
including mobile medical and dental clinics that park in neighborhoods
and provide critical services to those most in need. The community benefit
programs run by St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County last fiscal year
served 11,681 persons, and offered a variety of interventions including
clinics, school-based programs, and health education. Noted Ms. Dente,
“We’ve done so much over the years in this community, and
we also recognize that we can’t do it alone. By supporting some
of our wonderful nonprofit partners in Sonoma County, we are saying, ‘you
do great work, and we want you to do even more of it.’”
“At Committee on the Shelterless, we know that homelessness can have
a devastating effect on a person’s health,” says Mike Johnson,
CEO of the homeless services agency. “Many of our clients have an
undiagnosed physical or mental illness and even more experience poor nutrition.
That is why it is so meaningful to partner closely with St. Joseph Health—Sonoma
County to address the needs of our homeless community members. Together
we are rebuilding lives and restoring dignity for some of the most vulnerable
members of our community.”
Says Todd Salnas, President of St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County, “We
are really proud of our community partnerships. This grantmaking program
is a notable development for all of us here and it represents our continued
commitment to elevating the quality and impact of our community benefit
programs and services.”
"The process of applying was very personal. It didn’t feel like
we were just another organization applying for grant,” says Nubia
Padilla, Community Engagement Manager at Community Action Partnership
of Sonoma County. “It felt like we were receiving individualized
attention."
The grants will support work focused on healthy aging, mental health, substance
use, healthy eating and active living, and other health priorities. Elece
Hempel, Executive Director of a Petaluma-based service provider, notes
“Petaluma People Services Center is daily faced with the challenge
of delivering even more services with the same or fewer resources. St.
Joseph Health helps us provide nutrition programs to those in our community
who are the most vulnerable, including families and seniors.” Alena
Wall, Executive Director of the Center for Well-Being referred to St.
Joseph Health’s understanding of the complex determinants of health.
"The Center is thankful to have the philanthropic support of St.
Joseph Health as we mobilize the community to close the health equity
gap. To us, health access includes living in a place that is safe for
physical activity, where nutrient rich foods are accessible and policies
are in place that protect the health of our most vulnerable residents."
-more-
St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County grantees in fiscal year 2016 include
the following agencies:
- 10,000 Degrees
- Burbank Housing
- Catholic Charities
- Center for Well-Being
- Child Parent Institute
- Committee on the Shelterless (COTS)
- Community Action Partnership Sonoma County
- Community Foundation of Sonoma County
- Council on Aging
- Family Justice Center
- Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless
- Humanidad
- Latino Service Providers
- LifeWorks of Sonoma County
- Mentor Me
- Operation Access
- Petaluma People Services Center
- Santa Rosa Community Health Centers
- Social Advocates for Youth
- Sonoma County Bike Coalition
- West County Community Services Agency
For more information about the St. Joseph Health Community Grantmaking
program, please contact Dan Schurman, Community Partnership Manager at
St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County at
Daniel.schurman@stjoe.org
For general information about St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County Community
Benefit please visit this link:
http://www.stjoesonoma.org/For-Community/Community-Benefit.aspx
For an informational video about St. Joseph Health—Sonoma County
Community Benefit please visit this link:
http://www.stjoesonoma.org/For-Community/Community-Benefit/Video.aspx