Christmas arrived early this year for five local non-profit organizations who received nearly $20,000 in Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) Community Grants from the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH) Foundation. The grants were handed out at a special breakfast at AGCH on Monday, December 18, 2006.  CHW and its member hospitals jointly administer these grants annually.

The recipients of this year's AGCH Foundation awards were the Mid State Bank Foundation ($5000), the Women's Shelter of San Luis Obispo County ($5000), Five Cities Meals on Wheels ($4000), the San Luis Obispo County Children's Health Initiative ($4000), and the Salvation Army of Nipomo ($1800). "This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the commitment our hospitals and Catholic Healthcare West are making to improve the health and welfare of our community," said Rick Castro, AGCH President. "I'm pleased to award these monies to such worthwhile, community-oriented organizations."

The CHW Community Grants Program is designed to help communities provide support for underserved populations. The program, which is funded by contributions from its member hospitals, is a way CHW supports and enhances the advocacy, social justice and healthier communities' efforts of its hospitals.  The program partners with other nonprofit organizations that share the CHW values and also work to improve the health and quality of life of their community members.

Since the program's inception in 1990, CHW has awarded grants to more than 1,365 projects totaling over $22 million.  The funding criteria are based on priority areas identified in the AGCH Community Benefits Plans.  The hospital's Community Benefits Plan outlines the unmet health and human service needs of our community and indicates ways the hospital is working to fill the service gaps.

To receive a CHW Community Grant, applicants first had to complete a Letter of Intent (LOI).  The AGCH local grants committee reviewed the LOIs and determined which organizations would be invited to submit a full application.  Then, the AGCH/CHW Investment Committee made a final determination of grant awards on November 30, 2006. The awards were officially handed out at the hospital on December 18, 2006.

To find out more about the CHW Community Grants program and this year's recipients, please contact AGCH Foundation Executive Director, Montisa Phelan Lopez at (805) 994-55421, or by email at Montisa.Lopez@CHW.edu.