Kaiser Awards Community Benefit Grants to Six Nonprofits

Six nonprofit organizations across the state were awarded more than $286,200 through community benefit grants.

The organizations were provided the funds by Kaiser Permanente to be used to implement health and wellness initiatives state-wide.

“Promoting healthy eating and active living in the community, and particularly in schools, plays a huge role in improving the health of our state,” said Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i. “Providing greater opportunities to stay healthy through community programs, access to fresh foods, and educational initiatives can reduce health disparities, especially among our most vulnerable communities.”

Among the six organizations to receive grant money was the University of Hawai’i Foundation, which will use its $95,000 in funds for its Hawai’i 5210 initiative. The initiative promotes healthy nutrition and smart beverage choices in public schools across the state.

The Hawai’i Public Health Institute received $50,000 in support of researching and developing health policy recommendations related to the state Obesity Prevention Task Force and Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition.

Get fit Kauai and Na Lei Wili Area Health Education Center ($60,000), Adult Friends for Youth ($45,000), The Honolulu Theatre for Youth ($20,000); and Better Tomorrow at Kuhio Park Towers ($16,267) were also among the recipients of grant money.