IFMC Community Initiative Awards $116,580 in Grants
October 27, 2006
West Des Moines, IA - The IFMC Community Initiative, a 501(c)(3) charitable giving organization, provided $116,580 in grants to non-profit organizations in Iowa and Illinois for innovative health-related projects. Over the past three years, more than $300,000 has been given to the community. This year, grants were awarded for projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of children, the elderly, and underserved populations.
"The IFMC Community Initiative helps those in need and improves quality of life in the communities where we live and work," says Karl Larsen, M.D., Community Initiative board chair. "Our Community Initiative is dedicated to initiating and supporting, through research and programming, innovative health-related projects."
"This is a tremendous opportunity to help non-profit organizations with a level of funding that can make a real difference," said Thane Peterson, Community Initiative interim director.
Eight grants were distributed to organizations with programs that focused on diabetes education, childhood obesity, improving health education for seniors, or self-sufficiency for underserved populations. In Iowa, grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Camp Hertko Hollow, to give children with diabetes an opportunity to learn about good diabetes care in a fun camp setting.
- ChildServe Foundation, to support the Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Program providing short-term care and intensive therapies to help children transition from hospital to home.
- Des Moines Area Community College, to increase understanding of the aging process by educating health care providers about improving the quality of life for the elder population.
- Iowa CareGivers Association, to enhance the quality of care given by nursing assistants, home care aides and other direct care professionals in Polk, Warren and Dallas counties.
- Polk County Medical Society, to provide ongoing medical specialty care at no cost to the low income, uninsured and undocumented population in central Iowa.
- Abundant Health Resource Clinic, to serve the health and wellness needs of the medically underserved of Jackson County, Illinois.
- Pillars, to keep communities healthy and strong by providing community-based services to individuals and families facing challenges and crisis.
- Lawndale Christian Health Center, to educate and empower children and their families to adopt healthful lifelong nutrition and physical activity habits.
IFMC Community Initiative will award approximately $100,000 in grants again in 2007. Any non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations interested in applying for funding should visit www.ifmc.org to review eligibility requirements and learn more about the application process.
Media Contacts:
Linda Ruble (515) 223-2107 lruble@ifmc.org