Blue Shield of California Foundation Announces Nearly $9 Million in First Quarter Grants
Awards include up to $7.2 million to meet rising demand for community clinics, and funds for domestic violence prevention
San Francisco, March 9, 2010 – Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) today announced nearly $9 million in new grants, with a primary focus on helping the state meet immediate health needs. The majority of those funds will be directed to supporting community health clinics, at a time when public funding is shrinking and a growing number of uninsured Californians depend on their services.
“Now more than ever, California health clinics need core support,” said Brenda Solórzano, the Foundation’s chief program director and director of BSCF’s Health Care and Coverage program, which will be awarding up to $7.2 million this year to clinics in need.
“The best way to provide an immediate lifeline to millions of vulnerable families is by supporting California’s community clinics,” added Solórzano. “Our research tells us that core support grants can make a critical difference.”
Last year, California’s community clinics suffered over $80 million in state and local budget cuts. At the same time, clinics are reporting an increase in the number of uninsured patients as a result of high unemployment. Some clinics are reporting a 50 percent increase in the number of uninsured patients.
Over the last six years, BSCF has invested over $38 million in more than 200 community, free, and tribal clinics and their associations across California. Core support through BSCF’s Clinic Initiative allows those clinics to stay open and continue to provide care to Californians in need.
In addition to direct support to California clinics, BSCF also awarded $100,000 to San Diegans for Healthcare Coverage to develop a San Diego Roadmap to Health Coverage and Care. With the Foundation’s help, the organization will assess the local need for better access to care, identify options for expanding coverage, and develop a plan to strengthen local safety net providers.
Ending Domestic Violence in California
In addition to bolstering California’s healthcare safety net, BSCF also announced new funds aimed at creating a stronger statewide voice for organizations working to end domestic violence.
The Foundation awarded $345,000 to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV), which represents over 200 California organizations and individual advocates working to end domestic violence at local, state, and national levels. The funding will help CPEDV unify and strengthen the domestic violence field in California and help the organization to be an effective advocate for essential, continued public funding for the organizations that serve families impacted by domestic violence.
“Having a strong, engaged domestic violence field is a critical step toward the goal of ending domestic violence,” explained Bess Bendet, director of Blue Shield Against Violence. “CPEDV provides crucial leadership at a time when the field is under-resourced and over-stressed.”
The Foundation also awarded $425,000 to Oakland-based Youth Radio to further expand the reach of the BOM (“Boss of Me”) social marketing campaign designed to prevent teen dating violence. BOM takes an empowerment approach, engaging both young men and women in a new media-based effort to “dial down the drama” in their relationships.
About Blue Shield of California Foundation
Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the largest healthcare grantmaking organizations in California. For more information, visit: www.blueshieldcafoundation.org. The Foundation was formed by Blue Shield of California, a not-for-profit corporation with more than 3.4 million members, 4,700 employees, and 20 offices throughout California. For more information about the company, please visit www.blueshieldca.com.