St. Luke's passes out $418,210 to help non-profits

St. Luke’s Health System has awarded 39 Idaho not-for-profit organizations a total of $418,210 in grants to help fund programs that benefit the communities St. Luke’s serves.

The grants are part of the health system’s annual awards from its Community Health Improvement Fund, according to a news release.

“At the core of our responsibility as Idaho’s largest not-for-profit health system is our commitment to improve the health of the people we serve,” said Ed Dahlberg, St. Luke’s Health System CEO. “But we recognize that we can’t do it alone, so it’s critical that we help fund the efforts of the many dedicated organizations that share the same goal.”

St. Luke’s appoints a committee each year to review the requests. This year, grants ranged in size from $500 to $100,000. For more information about the grant program visit www.stlukesonline.org/giving/. Here is a list of Luke’s community health improvement grants:

General Health-Related Grants:

* American Cancer Society – $15,000 to help sponsor Relay for Life and Climb to Conquer Cancer events in Treasure, Wood River and Magic Valley s.

* American Heart Association – $50,000 to help fund the START! Heart Walk.

* Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – $2,500 to help sponsor the organization’s annual Boise Great Strides Walk.

* East Boise County Ambulance District – $500 to help with purchase of a new powered gurney.

* Faith in Action of Boise – $2,000 to help fund a volunteer caregiver program for senior citizens.

* Genesis World Mission – $7,500 to help underwrite the costs of the Garden City Community Clinic & Volunteer Physicians Network, and to support the annual Faith, Hope and Charity Dinner.

* Humphreys Diabetes Center – $3,000 to provide Healthy Living and Healthy Food & Fun presentation to adults and kids to help reverse the epidemic of childhood and adult obesity and diabetes in the community.

* Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – $10,000 to help support finding a cure for blood cancer.

* March of Dimes – $12,200 to help sponsor the Nurse of the Year award and the Blue Jeans Ball fundraiser.

* Nampa Civic Foundation – $1,500 to create a safe and educational forum for seniors in the community to learn about options for their health and well-being.

* National Alliance on Mental Illness – $1,000 to help pay for reference materials for Family to Family classes.

Family Health Grants

* Family Advocate Program – $2,000 to administer the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program.

* Learning Lab – $5,750 to help teach families to improve their health through increased health literacy and knowledge of nutrition and exercise, and to sponsor a table for the annual Lunch for Literacy fundraising event.

* Ronald McDonald House of Idaho – $5,000 to help offset the costs families pay to stay at the House.

* Terry Reilly Health Services – $5,000 to help provide counseling services to low-income and indigent victims of child abuse and their families.

* Treasure Valley YMCA – $50,000 to help support a variety of YMCA programs and events including the 2009 Live STRONG program for survivors of cancer, support of the medical clinic at the YMCA summer camp and the Strong Kids and Northwest Founder’s campaigns.

* Women’s and Children’s Alliance – $10,000 to support Alliance programs that provide shelter, education and opportunities to women and children victimized by domestic violence.

Children’s Health Grants

* Ada County Medical Society – $2,000 to help defray operational cost to provide physicals for highschool sports.

* American Lung Association – $1,500 to help cover the costs for children to attend the organization’s asthma camp.

* Big Brothers and Sisters of Southwest Idaho – $1,160 to buy personal safety books for parents and kids participating in the program.

* Boise Police Activities League – $2,500 to help fund the Youth Alcohol Prevention and Education Program.

* Boise Public Schools Education Foundation – $2,500 to help provide junior high students with the necessary resources to promote lifetime physical activity.

* Camp Hodia – $2,500 to help cover costs for children with diabetes participating in the camp.

* Caring Foundation for Children – $2,500 to provide free preventive dental care to low-income children.

* Children’s Home Society of Idaho – $7,000 to help purchase testing materials and equipment for the Autism Spectrum Disorders Program (ASDP) to provide early intervention screenings, and to support CHS’ annual gala fund raising event.

* Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho – $5,000 to help support a summer camp for children with epilepsy.

* Idaho Stampede – $7,500 to sponsor the GET FIT – Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Program.

* Lutheran Community Services Northwest – $2,500 to help fund the Children Are Our Flowers anti child-abuse awareness program.

* Make-A-Wish Foundation – $2,500 to support the Foundation’s efforts for children.

* Special Olympics Idaho – $2,500 to be used to provide year round sports training and athletic competition with Olympic type sports for all kids and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Economic, Education and Community Events Grants:

* Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce – $30,000 for general sponsorship opportunities.

* Boise State University – $100,000 to help build a nursing building at BSU and $5,000 to help provide scholarships.

* Downtown Boise Association – $2,500 to promote and fund a free kids’ bike race during the Twilight Criterium.

* Eagle Arts Commission – $1,000 to help sponsor art and music in the park during the summer.

* Eagle Chamber of Commerce – $2,000 for parade sponsorships, Eagle Country Christmas and Eagle Fun days.

* Nampa Chamber of Commerce – $4,000 to help promote and provide services at the 2009 Health Fest at the Idaho Center, purchase warm clothing for low-income residents and for Mountain States Tumor Institute sponsorship of chamber luncheon to raise awareness of cancer.

* Pedal for Patients – $1,600 to help pay for T-shirts for event participants.

* Snake River Stampede – $12,500 to fund the annual Tough Enough for Pink fundraising and awareness program for the prevention of breast cancer.

* Susan G. Komen for the Cure – $35,000 to support the 11th Annual Komen Boise Race for the Cure.