Kaiser Permanente grants aid Peninsula community well being

Kaiser Permanente awarded more than $600,000 in grants to 34 local non-profit organizations on the San Francisco Peninsula primarily for community programs aimed at improving mental health and eliminating substance abuse.
The Community Benefit grants from the Redwood City and South San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers are part of Kaiser Permanente’s mission to improve the health of the communities it serves.
Results from Kaiser Permanente’s Community Needs Assessment, a survey conducted every three years, found that these two issues are very important to San Mateo County residents and non-profit organizations. Another priority is improving nutrition for underserved communities.
Grants of $30,000 each were awarded to CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) of San Mateo for its family-centered mental health program; Samaritan House in South San Francisco for its Safe Harbor BRIDGE program, a substance abuse reduction program; and to the Boys and Girls Club to improve nutrition and exercise among youngsters.
“The reach of Kaiser Permanente’s efforts goes beyond our walls,” said Dr. Jim O’Donnell, Physician-in-Chief of the KP Redwood City Medical Center. “And, the impact we make touches the lives of thousands of people and families, both today and for years to come.”
Community Benefit grants were also awarded to:
· Second Harvest Food Bank
· Caminar
· Ravenswood Family Health Center
· Peninsula Family Services
· El Centro de Libertad