LOS ANGELES (May 5, 2011) - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has received a $500,000 grant from the California Community Foundation (CCF) that will help support the hospital's COACH for Kids and Their Families® program. Over a two-year period, the grant will help fund primary healthcare and case management services by COACH for Kids to vulnerable children in underserved communities in Inglewood, Centinela Valley, and the South Los Angeles neighborhoods of Watts and Compton.
"Promoting and improving the health and quality of life of children and adults, particularly those without adequate health insurance, has always been part of the mission of the California Community Foundation in Los Angeles," said President and CEO Antonia Hernández. "Access to health care is also a particular objective of our Centinela Medical Care Fund, from which this grant is being made." The grant marks the 11th year Cedars-Sinai's mobile medical clinics have received funding from the community foundation.
A program of Cedars-Sinai's Maxine Dunitz Children's Health Center, and staffed by healthcare professionals, COACH for Kids' fully-equipped mobile medical clinics bring high-quality, no-cost primary healthcare and case management services where they are needed most. In 2010, COACH for Kids provided health services to more than 10,500 individuals at elementary and middle schools, community centers, family homeless shelters and public housing developments in economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods. Continuity of care is ensured with services provided on a regular basis, including preventive care, such as immunizations and screenings, as well as diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses.
"This generous grant from the California Community Foundation will make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children who will receive vital healthcare services through our COACH for Kids program," said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "We're proud of our continuing partnership with CCF, which stems from a shared vision to ensure quality healthcare is accessible throughout the diverse communities of Los Angeles."
California Community Foundation is a public, charitable organization serving Los Angeles County for nearly 100 years. The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the arts, education, health care, housing and neighborhoods, and human development, and collaborates in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, among many other things. www.Calfund.org.
As an integral part of its mission, Cedars-Sinai, the largest nonprofit, private medical center in the Western United States, has been committed to meeting the health needs of the community for more than 100 years. http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Community-Benefit/.