Virginia Mason Franciscan Health press release.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) announced it will again award $1.7 million to local nonprofit organizations across the Puget Sound region through the CommonSpirit Community Health Improvement Grants program. This is the second year VMFH has dedicated funds to support community organizations in addressing some of the region’s most pressing health needs–from access to care and behavioral health to chronic disease and violence prevention.
“At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we’re deeply committed to the well-being of our communities, and our Community Health Improvement Grants are one of the ways we demonstrate that commitment,” says Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President of CommonSpirit Health’s Northwest Region. “This investment reflects our mission to improve health and advance social justice, directly supporting the incredible work these local organizations do to strengthen families and communities across the Puget Sound region.”
This year, the Community Health Improvement Grant program received 79 applications, and 27 were selected based on their alignment with VMFH’s Community Health Needs Assessments. The program aims to improve the health of local communities, with an emphasis on underrepresented and underserved populations.
2025 awardees include:
- Alimentando al Pueblo
- American Heart Association
- Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound (BGCSPS)
- CJK Community Homes
- Emergency Food Network
- FareStart
- Hunger Intervention Program
- Key Peninsula Healthy Community
- Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center
- Kitsap Public Health District
- Mary’s Place
- Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center
- Museum of Glass
- Nashi Immigrants Health Board
- New Life Community Development Agency
- Pierce Center for Arts & Technology (dba Arivva)
- Plateau Outreach Ministries
- ROOTS Young Adult Shelter
- Rainier Valley Food Bank
- Refugee Women’s Alliance
- Seattle Center Foundation
- Solid Ground
- Tacoma Urban League
- The Journey Fund
- The Salvation Army
- Vine Maple Place
- YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties
“We couldn’t be more excited to announce our second class of Community Health Improvement Grant awardees,” said Doug Baxter-Jenkins, region director, Community Health. “These grants are an investment in innovative projects that will improve health outcomes and health equity across the Puget Sound region.”
Through the year, grantees will use funds to support critical programs and activations that directly impact those most in need. For example, Vine Maple Place plans to provide 300 additional children with mental health counseling. The American Heart Association project aims to reduce maternal health disparities and mitigate long-term elevated cardiovascular disease in 210 perinatal and postpartum individuals. FareStart will give out 500 vouchers for households to receive fresh produce through 10 market events hosted at St. Francis Hospital. Seattle Center Foundation will hold a multi-day Seattle/King County Clinic at Seattle Center April 24-27, 2025. The volunteer-driven health clinic provides free medical, dental, and vision care, as well as social services to individuals in the community who need help accessing or affording health care. Last year, 2,900 people received care through the clinic. More than 30 VMFH health care providers and staff members volunteered at the clinic as well.
The Community Health Improvement Grants program is funded by contributions from eight VMFH hospitals across the region and in partnership with CommonSpirit Health. More information can be found at Community Health Improvement Grants.
About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit, one of the nation’s largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people.
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