Kaiser Permanente Awards $250,000 in Grants to Northern San Mateo County Community Organizations

Kaiser Permanente has awarded $250,000 in grants to 14 organizations serving northern San Mateo County as part of its annual Community Benefit grants program. The funded programs support organizations that serve low-income, vulnerable populations.

"We at Kaiser Permanente are committed to improving people’s lives even outside of our walls. These grants will help wonderful local organizations serve our most vulnerable neighbors, strengthening all of northern San Mateo County’s communities," said Helen Archer-Duste, chief operating officer and chief nurse executive, Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco.

"Supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the community is one way Kaiser Permanente fulfills our commitment to the Total Health of our members and the communities we serve," said Ron Groepper, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Greater San Francisco.

• Kids Cook with Heart: The American Heart Association’s program increases access to healthy food by teaching middle school students and their parents healthy nutrition habits and cooking skills through three monthly education workshops.
• Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County: The funded project aims to improve the health and physical fitness of youth while offering ways to incorporate healthy choices into their everyday lives.
• Daly City Peninsula Partnership Collaborative: Expanding access to Marriage and Family Therapy for under-insured, low-income parents in crisis, and children with behavioral challenges or adverse childhood experiences.
• Asian American Recovery Services Program: The project offers prevention and early intervention services for youth, parents and teachers at a middle school and high school, including outreach for mental health services to parents and community members.
• Jefferson Union High School District: The Youth to Youth Mentoring Prevention project will provide much needed support for incoming and at-risk freshmen to develop lasting positive friendships, prevent substance abuse, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and support academic performance.
• Safe Harbor BRIDGE: Increases access to behavioral health care services for homeless adults in San Mateo County who reside at the Safe Harbor shelter. Current and retired Kaiser Permanente physicians also volunteer at this clinic.

The Healthy Community Collaborative of San Mateo County, an advisory group composed of non-profit hospitals and the County’s public health department and human services agency, conducts a triennial community health needs assessment drawing on County data. Three health needs were identified as priorities in northern San Mateo County: HEAL (healthy eating and active living), behavioral health, and access to care. Based on these priorities, the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program awarded 14 grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000.

Kaiser Permanente operates a major medical center in South San Francisco. Since 2011, the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program has awarded over $1,300,000 in grants and sponsorships to community organizations in northern San Mateo County.