A number of organizations are going to get a philanthropic boost thanks to grants awarded by the Health Trust.
The recently-announced grants total $3.24 million and will go to a number of projects in Santa Clara and Northern San Benito counties in California. The goal of the grants is to help raise the health of communities, which is the major goal of the trust.
"I am so pleased we continue to support this essential work to improve the health of our community, especially in these tough economic times," Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of the Health Trust, said.
The grants were divided into three categories – healthy aging, healthy communities and healthy living.
Grants toward healthy aging focus on programs that help seniors in communities served. One such grant came in the form of $50,000 to the Alzheimer’s Activity Center’s Caregiver Wellness Program. The program focuses on caregivers who are over 50 years old, and gives them aid by providing workshops and support groups.
Healthy communities grants focus on the community as a whole, which includes people who may be in difficult economic or social situations. InnVision’s Healthcare for the Homeless Program was one of the projects that received grant money, which totaled $50,000. The grant money will be used to expand the program and further integrate its activities, which include education and wellness activities.
Reducing and avoiding obesity is the focus of healthy living grants, with programs stressing exercise and nutrition. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Youth Health Risk Assessment received $39,600 in grant funds, which it will use to further its technology-based wellness programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17.6% of children aged 12 to 19 were found to be obese in a survey conducted between 2003 and 2006.
Along with online features, the program makes use of cell phones through Vive, a private hosting service. The program has also collaborated with the Health Trust’s Youth Advisory Board.
Since it started in 1996, the Health Trust has given more than $100 million in order to better the lives of people in the communities it serves.
It’s a shame the Health Trust is wasting its money on water fluoridation. That money could be better used to actually treat children who have cavities that are rejected by dentists because either they have no money, poor insurance or are on Medicaid.