Blue Shield of California Foundation Awards $6 Million in Second-Quarter Grants
Blue Shield of California Foundation Awards $6 Million in Second-Quarter Grants
The San Francisco-based Blue Shield of California Foundation has announced $6 million in grants to organizations working to address health and human services needs in the state.
Grants totaling $3.2 million were awarded to 121 domestic violence shelters and service providers to help them cover basic operational costs and keep their doors open at a time when agencies are facing an uncertain state budget and high demand from families under economic stress. In addition, $330,000 was awarded to the Nonprofit Finance Fund to provide financial consulting to shelters that are especially impacted by the current economic climate, and $30,000 to Marin Abused Women's Services to identify and share best practices for helping faith-based organizations address domestic violence in their communities. BSCF is the largest private funder of domestic violence services in California, having committed more than $30 million to domestic violence services and prevention since 2002.
Additional second-quarter grants include $1.9 million to the Clinic Leadership Institute to provide a leadership program for emerging community clinic leaders in partnership with the Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco, and $400,000 to Small Business Majority to help small businesses in the state understand how federal health reform will make it easier to get coverage for their employees.
"Over half of uninsured Californians work for small businesses," said Brenda Solórzano, chief program director at BSCF and director of its health care and coverage program. "If we are going to succeed in providing health coverage to all Californians, we have to help small business owners use the new tax credit and other tools that make coverage more affordable."
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