April 1, 2008

St. John's Regional Medical Center and St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital will award more than $123,000 in grants to nine Ventura County nonprofit organizations at an awards breakfast this morning in Oxnard.

The awards ceremony at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard will recognize the groups' contributions to the community in a variety of areas, including health services access and affordability, culturally sensitive health and social services, homeless services, and family violence prevention, education and treatment.

Recipients of the grants are:

• Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo for its Get Healthy Program, an after-school fitness, nutrition and education program that addresses the negative effects of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse and promotes healthy eating habits and increased physical activity.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme for the Shape Program, which uses an integrated approach that includes nutritional education and physical activity designed to decrease the risks associated with obesity in young people, especially those from low-income families.

• Community Action of Ventura County for the Senior Home Modification and Safety Program, a community-based effort that will provide 100 low-income seniors with repairs to improve the health and safety of their homes.

• FOOD Share Inc. for a nutrition program providing healthy after-school snacks and nutrition and exercise information to low-income children at local organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs and community centers.

• Interface Children Family Services for the Children's Resource Program, which coordinates access to no-cost healthcare for uninsured, underinsured, ill or injured children by matching them with professionals to provide the necessary assessments and medical treatments.

• RAIN Communities Inc. to establish and promote lifelong healthy-eating lifestyles as well as fund a housing program for homeless families, children and single adults.

• Rescue Mission Alliance for the Lighthouse Program, which provides emergency shelter, meals, clothing, employment assistance and safe sleeping accommodations to homeless women and children.

• Salvation Army of Oxnard/Port Hueneme to fund a free licensed medical and dental clinic program for underserved and indigent Ventura County residents.

• Turning Point Foundation for the Ventura County Homeless Healthcare Project, which provides healthcare access and treatment for the homeless and mentally ill.

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