SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) continue to improve the overall quality of life in Nevada. This year, $162,455 in grants was distributed to six local not-for-profit organizations who demonstrated their commitment to enhancing community health needs. Organizations who received funding include Access to Healthcare Network, American Lung Association, CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Nevada Diabetes Association and Northern Nevada HOPES.
“Community giving is a critical component to helping our region successfully improve access to healthcare and identify those health issues prominent in our community,” said Mike Johnson, vice president of community health and mission integration at Saint Mary’s. “As an organization dedicated to the health of our community, we continue our longstanding tradition of supporting local health organizations who share in this mission.”
A committee of local leaders reviewed grant applications and successfully matched grants to organizations who addressed one of the following community health needs: improving access to healthcare, preventing and/or managing chronic illness, improved birth outcomes, improving access to oral health services, reductions in infectious disease, access and/or utilization of immunizations, improving nutritional habits and physical activity levels of populations at risk for developing lifestyle-related illnesses. Organizations who received funding will implement programs that demonstrate the core principles as outlined by the Association of Community Health Improvement.
Funding for these grants is separate from contributions made to Saint Mary’s Foundation. Grant funds are made available from CHW for distribution by its member hospitals in Nevada, California and Arizona.
About Saint Mary’s
Saint Mary’s Network is a fully-integrated, faith-based health system in Reno, Nev. founded in 1908 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. The network is comprised of Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, an acute-care hospital, providing inpatient, outpatient and wellness services; Saint Mary’s Health Plans, a statewide insurance provider with more than 40,000 members; and Saint Mary’s Medical Group, a network of physicians and other health professionals offering primary and urgent care, retail clinics and specialty healthcare. A member of Catholic Healthcare West, Saint Mary’s is dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of our community. For more information, visit our website at www.saintmarysreno.org.
About Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), headquartered in San Francisco, CA, is a system of 40 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Founded in 1986, it is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest private hospital system in California. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. The CHW network of nearly 10,000 physicians and approximately 54,000 employees provides health care services to more than five million people annually. In 2010, CHW provided more than $1.3 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed patient care. For more information, please visit our website at www.chwHEALTH.org.
