Mountain View, Calif., June 21, 2016 – The El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors approved $7 million in funding to support local organizations for fiscal year 2017 through its Community Benefit Program. It is the largest amount approved in the program’s history. Grant recipients include school districts, nonprofit organizations, safety-net clinics and government programs that serve residents who live, work, or go to school in the District.
Each year, the District allocates a substantial portion of the property taxes collected to support Community Benefit efforts. The funds are invested in organizations and programs that address unmet health needs. This will bring the District’s total contribution to over $47 million since fiscal year 2009.
“Reinvesting these funds locally is one of the most impactful ways we foster good physical and mental health in the communities we serve,” said Peter C. Fung, MD, MS, FACP, FAAN, FAHA, chair of the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors. “It is an honor to partner with more than 45 organizations working everyday with community members to improve their health and well-being.”
The District’s Community Benefit grants focus on three priority areas: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind and Healthy Community. These areas were identified through the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment conducted by El Camino Hospital and the Santa Clara County Community Benefit Coalition:
- Healthy Body: Improve Health Care Access and Prevent Disease – Grants include support for school nurse programs, providers for community clinics, dental services, and school-based nutrition and physical activity programs. These efforts aim to reduce chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, and promote healthy choices.
- Healthy Mind: Improve Access to Mental Health Services – Grants include support for school-based mental health counseling, domestic violence programs, initiatives to reduce depression and isolation in seniors, and treatment for those with severe mental health conditions.
- Healthy Community: Improve Overall Community Health – Grants include falls prevention and transportation programs for seniors, camps and mentoring programs for at-risk youth, and emergency food assistance for low income community members.
The record high level of funding made by El Camino Healthcare District demonstrates its commitment to enhancing the health of its residents. Additional information about the funding priorities, selected grants and opportunities for future funding are available at www.elcaminohealthcaredistrict.org/community-benefit.