Dignity Health donates $460,250 for grants to help meet local needs
Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals partnered again this giving season to donate money for grants that will be distributed among eight Kern County nonprofits. The goal is to fund health and social initiatives identified by the Mercy and Memorial Community Health Needs Assessment.
Known as The Dignity Health Community Health Improvement Grants Program, the hospitals hosted a private parade on Tuesday afternoon at the Ronald McDonald House parking lot next to Memorial. Staff, donors and nonprofit personnel gathered in festive wear with Christmas music and hot cocoa as the nonprofits received their the grant money awards.
Nonprofits from all over Kern had the opportunity to apply for the grant. The grants were given to organizations that align with the health needs assessment and the hospitals’ collaborative criteria.
Every three years, Dignity Health conducts the assessment countywide to understand medical needs within the community. Dignity usually focuses on giving the grants to organizations that focus on substance abuse, chronic diseases, homelessness and other significant Kern health needs.
“The grants allow these nonprofit organizations to shore up and create programs to expand their reach, which, in turn, helps our community residents that are hosting,” said Donna Sharp, regional director of special needs and community outreach at Dignity Health.
In total, this year, the Dignity Health awarded $460,250 in grant money, split among these Kern nonprofits:
Alpha House — $75,000 for its project called A Place for New Beginnings; Casa Esperanza — $75,000 for its Journey to Success Program; Grossman Burn Foundation — $25,000 toward reducing health-care barriers for low-income burn patients; Kern Partnership for Children and Families — $40,000 for Healthy Babies, Health Families; Keepers Transformation House — $50,000 for bringing health and safe housing to vulnerable women of all ages; Links for Life — $45,250 for the Links for Life Health and Wellness Program; St. Vincent de Paul — $75,000 for its homeless assistance program; and Teen Challenge of Southern California — $75,000 toward Teen Challenge, Kern County Chapter.
“The goal of the grant program is really to extend the services outside the walls of the hospital,” Sharp said. “To work with the poor and underserved, providing resources to vulnerable populations in whatever facet that may be. Whether that’s access to health care, whether that’s for services, we really see that as a way to provide additional services to the community.”
The nonprofits and the two hospitals share the same goal, in that they aim to uplift a vulnerable community with this year’s grant money.
“It feels amazing,” said Lisa Elzy Watson, a board member for Casa Esperanza.
“One of the things I have to say about Dignity Health is that they have been a tremendous partner with us, and we are able to open our home and serve homeless women and their children to make their holiday season a special one.”
Since the program started in 1990, Dignity Health hospitals have donated more than $6.5 million to 76 nonprofit organizations.