Scripps Health Awards $100,000 to Local Community Groups

Funding will improve access to vital health care for at-risk San Diegans

San Diego – Scripps Health has awarded $100,000 in grants to six local community organizations to help improve access to vital health care services for a variety of at-risk populations across San Diego County.


“Scripps is proud to support the region’s growing health care needs by partnering with organizations that make a difference in San Diego County,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health. “This year’s grants are a continuation of Scripps’ 85-year legacy of collaboration to deliver the continuum of care that improves the health of our community.”


Scripps Health has awarded a total of $1.3 million in grants since establishing its community benefit fund. The grants are part of Scripps Health’s larger community benefit program, which in 2008 invested more than $287 million in uncompensated care, community-based health improvement and professional education and research in San Diego County.


The following organizations received grants from Scripps ranging from $10,000 to $40,000:


  • 2-1-1 San Diego: Funding was awarded for ongoing operations of its telephone dialing code, which provides the public with information about community, health and disaster services. 2-1-1 San Diego was launched in June 2005 as a multilingual and confidential service committed to providing round-the-clock access to health information.
  • American Cancer Society: According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 292,000 men and 270,000 women die of cancer each year in the United States. Funding was awarded for the ACS’ San Diego Discovery Gala event, which helps raise money for cancer research, advocacy, education and patient services.
  • American Heart Association: Heart disease is a leading cause of death in America, claiming more than 950,000 lives year. Scripps partners with the American Heart Association on its annual Heart Walk to raise funds for research, professional and public education and advocacy.
  • Catholic Charities: Funding was awarded to provide short-term emergency shelter to medically fragile homeless patients upon discharge from Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego. The program provides patients with a hotel room, food, bus fares for follow-up appointments and case management services for long-term housing, employment and sober living. The goal of this partnership is to improve the quality of life for the patient.
  • La Maestra Community Health Center: The La Maestra dental clinic provides preventive care, treatment and required dental screenings for students. Funding was awarded to provide appropriate oral health services to the underserved, uninsured and underinsured students and families at Hoover High School and its feeder schools.
  • Partnership for Smoke Free Families: Every eight seconds, a human life is lost to tobacco use somewhere in the world. This comprehensive tobacco control program reduces tobacco smoke exposure among pregnant women and small children by systematically screening pregnant women and new parents for tobacco use in their obstetrician’s and pediatrician’s office and linking them with tailored interventions.


Contact: Ashley Hernandez

Phone: 858-678-6790

Email: Hernandez.Ashley@scrippshealth.org

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