June 5, 2006
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
Director of Communications
314.345.5500 office

Nine Area Nonprofits Receive Basic Support Grants

St. Louis -Nine southwest Missouri organizations have received a total of $859,146 in grant awards from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) as part of its Basic Support funding effort. The Basic Support two-year grants help organizations maintain existing programs and services.

Those organizations receiving Basic Support grants are:

Alzheimer's Association Southwest Missouri Chapter, Springfield, $100,000. Funding supports current programs and services, including respite care, referrals and support groups.

The Doula Foundation of Mid-America, Springfield, $62,930. Funding supports operational costs of the organization, which provides prenatal care and education to at-risk pregnant women in Greene and surrounding counties.

Family Violence Center, Inc., Springfield, $100,000. This grant supports operational expenses of the organization, which provides shelter, advocacy and education to victims of domestic violence.

Fordland Clinic, Inc., Fordland, $98,828. Funding supports operational costs to provide a variety of services in Webster County, including health screenings, nutrition counseling, nicotine cessation, cavity prevention and mental health assessments.

Ozark County Health Department, Gainesville, $100,000. Funding from this grant supports an established walking program for residents of this south-central Missouri county.

Stone County Health Department, Galena, $99,919. This grant supports the Wellness Clinic, which provides physical exams, screenings and nutrition education to residents of this southwest Missouri county.

Taney County Ambulance District, Branson, $99,940. Funding supports operational costs to provide EMS training for first responders, EMTs and paramedics.

Women's Crisis Center of Taney County, Branson, $100,000. Funding from this grant provides operational support for the center, which assists victims of domestic violence in southwest Missouri.

Wright County Health Department, Hartville, $97,529. Funding enables the organization to provide health screenings, education and referrals to Wright County residents.

MFH has committed $12 million to Basic Support funding in 2006. For more information about other funding opportunities in 2006, visit the MFH website, www.mffh.org.

Established in 2000 through the for-profit conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state. MFH is in its fourth year of grantmaking, issuing more than $167 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.

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