2.01.2006 ET

(CSRwire) JACKSON, MS - The Foundation for the Mid South announced today its receipt of a grant from The Baxter International Foundation to establish a health recovery fund to aid disaster restoration efforts of community-based health organizations in the mid-south region of the United States.

The Baxter International Foundation Health Recovery Fund will provide grants to community-based health care clinics, nonprofits, and other community-based health services that are delivered by other organizations including hospices, nursing homes, home health or visiting nurse agencies, domestic violence and child abuse organizations, mental health clinics, dental clinics, senior citizen organizations, youth service organizations, substance abuse treatment organizations, disability services, physical / occupational therapy clinics, and family centers.

A total of $750,000 will be available in two rounds through the Fund: $250,000 in Recovery Grants, and $500,000 in Restoration Grants. The Fund is designed to provide grants of up to $30,000 to support local healthcare professionals' efforts to restore their clinics and to reestablish their services to families and communities in need. Available exclusively to affected health service organizations located in Louisiana, Mississippi, the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Arkansas, Recovery Grants can be used to meet a variety of needs including the restoration of services, interim or expanded staffing, relocation and renovation fees, inventory replacement of medication and supplies, and essential small equipment and furniture.

"The Foundation for the Mid South's approach to disaster relief for hurricane-affected regions is in line with The Baxter International Foundation's mission to support improved access to healthcare," said Celene Peurye, executive director, The Baxter International Foundation. "We're proud to support an organization that will provide both short and long-term support to those community-based health organizations most affected by the disaster."

Health service organizations are invited and encouraged to submit grant applications through a competitive grant process that begins today and will be managed by the Foundation for the Mid South in Jackson, Mississippi. Applicants should visit the Foundation's website at www.fndmidsouth.org to download The Baxter International Foundation Health Recovery Fund application, which includes the eligibility requirements, guidelines, and grant application; or call (601) 355-8167 to request an application. Completed grant applications must be received at the Foundation for the Mid South's office (134 East Amite Street / Jackson, MS 39201) by 5 p.m. on March 1, 2006.

About The Baxter International Foundation
The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., helps organizations increase access to healthcare in the United States and around the world. The Foundation, established in 1981, began to focus exclusively on increasing access to healthcare in 2002 - particularly for the disadvantaged and underserved - in and near communities where Baxter employees live and work.

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists healthcare professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives.

About The Foundation for the Mid South
The Foundation for the Mid South is a not-for-profit, regional development foundation that invests in people and strategies that build philanthropy and promote racial, social, and economic equity in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Operating since 1989, the total impact of the Foundation's work is estimated at $150 million in new resources for the region.

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