The University of Vermont Medical Center has announced it is investing $419,336 in a broad range of non-profit social service and health programs in Chittenden and Franklin counties through its Community Benefit Fund. Seniors needing transportation, children lacking nutritious food, and low income residents seeking medical care will all benefit from this funding. (See list of organizations and grant amounts below).
The grants are part of more than $100 million in community benefits provided by the UVM Medical Center each year, including charity care and approximately $750,000 in Community Benefit Fund grants.
Grant decisions are informed by findings in the triennial Community Needs Assessment conducted by the UVM Medical Center in collaboration with a community steering group. Five priority areas were identified in the 2013 Assessment: access to food and nutrition, dental health, mental health, removing barriers to health care (e.g. affordability, transportation) and improving the well-being of seniors.
Support for Howard Center's Street Outreach Program - which the UVM Medical Center has funded since its inception - was recently named a Program of Excellence by the Hospital Charitable Services Awards, an initiative sponsored by Jackson Healthcare to recognize exceptional hospital community programs.
“A core part of the UVM Medical Center’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of the communities we serve, and all of these programs help to achieve that goal,” said Penrose Jackson, director of Community Health Improvement. “We’re proud to partner with these great organizations which are doing such vital and excellent work.”
Source: (Burlington, VT 2.18.2015) The University of Vermont Medical Center