OREANDA-NEWS. August 19, 2016. Continuing its strong commitment to supporting the communities it serves, Kaiser Permanente has announced a total of \\$731,000 in Community Benefit grants to 62 non-profit organizations in San Bernardino County for 2016.

The grants support organizations and community health clinics that provide free and/or low cost programs and services to the underserved and uninsured throughout San Bernardino County.

“Kaiser Permanente strives to help eliminate health disparities and build healthier communities,” said Greg Christian, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plan, Fontana and Ontario Medical Centers. “We couldn’t do that without strong partnerships like the ones we have with these organizations in San Bernardino County. Now more than ever, these partnerships are vital.”

“These community health partners are filling critical gaps by providing physical and mental health care needed in the community,” added Timothy Jenkins, MD, area medical director and chief of staff. “By supporting these critical programs, we are helping more people live well and thrive.”

Kaiser Permanente San Bernardino County Area’s grant funding is informed by the organization’s tri-annual Community Health Needs Assessment. Grants are awarded to organizations in one of three community health need categories: Access to Health Insurance Coverage and Health Care Services, Reduce Obesity Rates, and Improve Social Determinants of Health.

“Improving the health of the communities we serve has always been a central part of our social mission,” said Jennifer Resch-Silvestri, senior director, Public Affairs and Brand Communications. “We are pleased to invest significant resources that increase access to health care and critical services for our under-served populations in the county.”

Programs supported by Community Benefit help families receive primary care, dental and mental health care, teach people how to manage chronic diseases, promote preventive care, provide healthy eating and active living education, and support basic needs such as employment training, food security, housing and transportation.

The 62 community benefit grant recipients for 2016 are:

  • Another Level For Women
  • Al Shifa Free Clinic
  • American Diabetes Association-Inland Empire
  • Arrowhead United Way
  • Asian-American Resource Center
  • Assistance League of Redlands
  • Bear Valley Community Healthcare District Foundation
  • Bear Valley Unified School District
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
  • Bright Prospect
  • The Carolyn E. Wylie Center for Children Youth & Families
  • Catholic Charities, San Bernardino/Riverside
  • Central City Lutheran Mission Branch
  • Children’s Fund, Inc.
  • Christian Counseling Service
  • City of Montclair
  • City of Rancho Cucamonga, “Healthy Rancho Cucamonga”
  • City of San Bernardino, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
  • Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (Food Bank)
  • Community Health Systems, Inc.
  • Cornerstone Community Health
  • David & Margaret Youth and Family Services
  • Dr. Earl R. Crane Children’s Dental Health Center
  • Family Service Agency of San Bernardino
  • Fontana Unified School District
  • Foothill AIDS Project
  • Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council
  • Hearts & Lives
  • Dreamers Visionaries and Leaders
  • Hope through Housing Foundation
  • House of Ruth
  • Inland Caregiver Resource Center
  • Inland Counties Regional Center, Inc.
  • Inland Empire United Way
  • Inland Valley Hope Partners
  • Lestonnac Free Medical Clinic
  • Mary’s Mercy Center, Inc.
  • Mercy House
  • Montclair Community Foundation
  • Moses House Ministries
  • New Hope Free Clinic, Inc.
  • Ontario-Montclair Schools Foundation
  • OPARC
  • Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District
  • Pomona Community Health Center
  • Reach Out West End
  • Rim Family Services
  • Salvation Army
  • Samaritan Counseling Center
  • Assistance League of the Foothill Communities
  • San Bernardino County Sexual Assault Services Inc.
  • Feeding America Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (Food Bank)
  • Social Action Community Health System
  • Special Olympics Inland Empire Region
  • St. Joan of Arc/The Lord’s Table
  • THINK Together
  • Time for Change Foundation
  • Victor Valley Community Services Council
  • Victor Valley Rescue Mission
  • Well of Healing Mobile Medical Clinic
  • West End YMCA
  • Youth Action Project

Monetary grants are just one way Kaiser Permanente helps ensure that good health extends beyond our doors. Community Benefit focuses not just on grant dollars but also includes donating resources, including surplus medical equipment, furniture, food and supplies and donating our time and expertise through volunteerism — everything from physician volunteers at non-profit community clinics to painting and sprucing up local non-profit organizations. In January 2016, nearly 100 Kaiser Permanente staff members volunteered to refresh the Head Start Day Care facility in Chino.

Kaiser Permanente’s San Bernardino County Service Area has provided comprehensive, affordable health care to the Inland Empire for 70 years and serves more than 550,000 members. The San Bernardino County Service Area includes the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in Fontana and Ontario, and medical offices in Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, Claremont, Montclair, Chino, San Bernardino, Victorville, Redlands and Upland.

About Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 4.2 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information follow us on twitter; @KPSCALNews or go to: share.kp.org/scal.