By SALINA POST
The Salina Regional Health Foundation this afternoon announced the awarding of $252,927 in grants to 12 local and area organizations during 2021.
The grants were awarded through the foundation's Community Health Investment Program (CHIP). CHIP funding comes primarily from Salina Regional Health Center, which each year tithes a percentage of its operating margin to the foundation, according to information from the foundation. Since CHIP began in 1995, the foundation has awarded more than $13 million in grants to local community organizations.
CHIP grants mainly are focused on children’s health, childhood obesity, mental health, substance abuse, aging populations, heart disease and stroke, the foundation noted.
Applications for CHIP are accepted three times a year. The next two application deadlines for 2022 are April 22 and August 26. Applications for grant funding can be downloaded online at www.srhc.com/about-us/community-health-investment-program.php.
The CHIP grants awarded by the Salina Regional Health Foundation in 2021 include the following.
• $50,000 to Salina Grace to open a low-barrier winter shelter for area homeless.
• $40,000 to The School Marathon Foundation to provide programming at area grade schools for students to complete a marathon (26.2 miles) during before-and-after school activities.
• $25,000 to Sprout House Learning Center in Lindsborg to construct a new childcare center.
• $25,000 to Ashby House’s ‘Finish that House’ campaign to complete a new shelter that will increase the organization’s capacity to serve area homeless families and individual women.
• $25,000 to American Red Cross Blood Services to help purchase a new van used throughout the region to transfer blood donations for processing, testing and storage.
• $22,000 to Salina Education Foundation to sponsor a variety of programs and initiatives for the 2021-22 academic year including Power of One/Healthy Lifestyles, Sudden Opportunity Grants, Nurse Emergency Funds, Opportunity Now-Get Fit, Breakfast for Success, Heartland Weekend Meals, Early Childhood/Parent Involvement and Social Workers Fund.
• $20,063 to CKF Addiction Treatment to provide a peer mentor at COMCARE, Saline County Health Department and Salina Family Healthcare Center to enhance provision of care to those battling addiction.
• $15,864 to Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas for the Salina Diaper Program, which provides limited quantities of diapers on a monthly basis to at-risk families.
• $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina in support of its community-based mentoring program.
• $10,000 to Salina AM Chapter of AMBUCS to purchase building materials to construct ramps at area homes for those with wheelchairs and disabilities.
• $5,000 to Rolling Hills Zoo for Dream Night – a free evening at the zoo for area children with terminal or chronic illness or disabilities and their families.
• $5,000 to Greater Salina Community Foundation to support the Bill Grevas Memorial Free Throw Contest at Match Madness, which raises funds for local charities.