January 24, 2003

Contact: Andy Krackov, (650) 736-0677 or Andrew.Krackov@lpfch.org

Children's Health Foundation Makes Emergency Grants

PALO ALTO - The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health has allocated $91,800 in emergency grants to 14 Santa Clara County nonprofit agencies that face substantial cuts from their other funding sources, foundation President and CEO Stephen Peeps announced Jan. 23.

The one-time grants, which support agencies that serve children and youth, range from $2,100 to $12,500. All of the recipient organizations are current grantees of Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. The emergency grants are intended to provide interim relief to agencies affected by cuts from a variety of funding sources. The larger grants went to "safety net" agencies that support basic needs, such as housing and food.

"Given the tough economic conditions, we’re especially glad that we can be responsive to pressing needs in the community and help shore up budgets for agencies that do so much for the children in Santa Clara County," Peeps said.

The grants are unrestricted and can be used to cover core operating expenses. Many foundations, including the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, traditionally award restricted grants for individual programs.

The 14 agencies that received grants are:
• Adolescent Counseling Services
• American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Clara County
• Bill Wilson Center
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
• Community Solutions for Children, Families, and Individuals
• Eastfield Ming Quong Children and Family Services
• Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County
• InnVision of Santa Clara Valley
• Mexican American Community Services Agency
• Sacred Heart Community Service
• Social Advocates for Youth
• YWCA in Santa Clara Valley
• YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula

In addition to these special grants, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health makes grants twice yearly in its two focus areas: protecting children, ages 0 to 5, from injury, with an emphasis on preventing child abuse and neglect; and promoting behavioral mental, and emotional health in preteens. To date, the foundation has awarded 151 grants, totaling $16,714,684, to 95 different nonprofit organizations.

The foundation was established as a public charity in 1996, when the previously independent Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital became part of Stanford University Medical Center. The foundation's mission is to "promote, protect, and sustain the physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral health of children." For more information about the foundation's community grantmaking program, call (650) 736-0676, or visit the foundation's grantmaking Web site.

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