December 20, 2006
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
314.345.5500 office

MFH Awards $1.3 Million in Grants to St. Louis-Area Organizations

St. Louis -Five area organizations have received a share of $1,308,244 in grants from Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH). The funding enables recipient organizations to improve access to health care treatment, promote smoking cessation in the workplace, and develop better strategic funding efforts.

The MFH grants are:
Crider Center for Mental Health, Wentzville, $900,000. This three-year grant enables the organization to create a new health center for low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents for Franklin, Lincoln, St. Charles and Warren counties. This funding is part of MFH's newly developed Primary Care Access Initiative, which focuses on strengthening the health care safety net and improving access to care for Missouri residents. This is one of eight grants made across the state under this Initiative, for a total of $5 million.
Missouri Baptist Hospital, Sullivan, $143,144. This two-year grant enables the hospital to provide smoking cessation assistance to 250 employees in businesses located in Franklin and Crawford counties. This is part of MFH's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative, a nine-year, $40 million funding effort now in its third year of grantmaking.
St. Louis County Department of Health, St. Louis, $241,975. This two-year grant supports the health department's implementation of smoking cessation programs in 45 worksites in St. Louis County. This grant also is made through the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative.
St. Louis Family Violence Council, St. Louis, $8,125. Through MFH's Strategic Organizational Development program, this grant helps the organization improve their fundraising and program development activities in the wake of a recent merger with Family Justice Center.
South Grand Senior Ministry, St. Louis, $15,000. This Strategic Organizational Development grant helps the organization improve its sustainability in the wake of program expansion and growing needs.

"We are pleased to provide grants to these organizations as they work toward helping St. Louis-area residents lead healthier lives," says Dr. James R. Kimmey, MFH's president and CEO. "Whether it is helping people to quit smoking, helping organizations improve their sustainability, or helping to create new community health centers, MFH is committed to ensuring that all Missourians have adequate access to high-quality health care options, and thus live healthier lives."

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 $195 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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