|
Corporate Social Responsibility
News
12.06.2006 - 11:50am ET
|
CSR News from:
|
|
|
News Category:
|
|
Recovery Grants Awarded to Health Organizations Serving Hurricane-Affected Communities
The Baxter International Foundation Health Recovery Fund awards grants totaling $833,813 to support organizations working to improve the health of Mid Southerners
(CSRwire) JACKSON, MS December 6, 2006 - The Foundation for the Mid South
(FMS) announced today the recipients of grants totaling $833,813 on behalf
of The Baxter International Foundation Health Recovery Fund. The fund was
established in February to support the recovery and restoration efforts of
community-based health care clinics, nonprofits, and other community-based
health services in the Mid South after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
FMS received funding for The Baxter International Foundation Health
Recovery Fund from The Baxter International Foundation with matching funds
from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
With this second of two scheduled rounds of funding, nonprofit
organizations can address a variety of health needs in their communities
including: (1) the restoration and support of health clinic services; (2)
mental health programs; (3) clinic visits and health education for
un/underinsured, socially disadvantaged, and minority residents; and (4)
disease prevention and health promotion. The guidelines for the second
round of grants were developed by the Mid South Health Advisory Committee
based on feedback from over 150 health care professionals during a
regional conference on improving health disparities in the region
--including a focus on health inequities caused by socio-economic
conditions.
The organizations receiving funding are:
Catholic Charities Trauma Recovery for Youth serving the Mississippi
Gulf Coast, Central Mississippi, and the Delta ($75,000)
Boat People SOS, Inc. serving Biloxi, Ms, and the New Orleans,
Louisiana, area ($192,480)
Common Ground Health Clinic serving the New Orleans, La, area
($200,000)
University of Arkansas for Medical Science--Area Health Education
Center serving Sevier County, Arkansas ($189,583)
YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana, serving 11 parishes including
the city of Baton Rouge ($176,750).
These grants bring the total of grant dollars provided through The Baxter
International Foundation Health Recovery Fund to $1,083,813. The first
round of health recovery grants--totaling $250,000--was awarded in May to
13 health service organizations throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. The
funds helped healthcare professionals to re-establish their health clinics,
purchase or replace mobile medical units, and provide health services to
communities and families in need after the hurricanes.
"These are important first steps for both regional and national
foundations and nonprofits investing in improving the health and well
being of the residents in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi," said
Celene Peurye, executive director, The Baxter International Foundation.
"We are moving forward and making progress with our partners in the Mid
South, but we need others to join us to ensure that our efforts gain the
momentum they need to truly make an impact."
"We are excited about partnering with The Baxter International Foundation
and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bring over a million dollars to
the Mid South to address the urgent health needs following the hurricanes,
but also to begin to address the core health disparities that have plagued
our region," said Ivye L. Allen, Foundation for the Mid South president.
"Our region is ranked at the bottom in our country in too many health
indicators. And although the hurricanes had a devastating impact on
health services from the Texas to the Mississippi Gulf Coasts, we must be
concerned and committed to improving the entire health sector in the Mid
South to better serve our residents."
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 hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious
diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other conditions. The company
applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and
biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. For
more information, please visit www.baxter.com.
About the Foundation for the Mid South
The Foundation for the Mid South is a nonprofit organization that invests
in people and strategies that build philanthropy and promote racial,
social, and economic equity in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The
Foundation has both acquired and leveraged millions of dollars from inside
the Mid South and nationally to support and expand nonprofits and
leadership in the region.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and
health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest
philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care
of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of
organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve
comprehensive, meaningful, and timely change. For more than 30 years, the
Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced
approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those
it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get
the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your
lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
|
|
