SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (March 12, 2025) – Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has awarded $229,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves in Santa Cruz County. The grants, part of the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program, are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved populations.

“The 2025 Community Health Improvement Grants are a reflection of our commitment to working toward a healthier future for all. The awardee organizations work to improve and maintain health beyond the care we provide to patients in our hospital, and these grants help bring service into additional community settings,” says Nanette Mickiewicz, MD, president and CEO of Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz.

The grant program helps to improve community health and health equity, and enhance local service systems, via restricted charitable contributions for defined projects. 

Collaborating 501(c)3 non-profit organizations applied to receive grant funds to address significant issues identified in the Dignity Health Dominican Hospital community health needs assessment. These can include improving Behavioral Health, Health Care Access and Delivery, Economic Insecurity and more.  

The following organizations received grants to support program activities between March 2025 and February 2026:

•  Dientes Community Dental Care: Access to Dental Care for People who are Experiencing Homelessness, $40,000
•  Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County: The Diversity Center’s Health and Wellbeing Initiative, $35,000
•  Food, What: Economic Security and Behavioral Health Supports through Food, Farming, and Community, $40,000
•  KidPower: Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower, $30,000
•  Monarch Services - Servicios Monarca, $49,000
•  WomenCare: Cancer Support Services, $35,000

More information about Dominican Hospital can be found here. 

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About Dignity Health California 
Dignity Health California is a nonprofit network of over 9000 physicians, more than 35,000 employees, 29 acute care hospitals, and 200-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Dignity Health California provides award-winning care to communities in five primary markets across the state: North State, Sacramento, Central Valley, Central Coast, and Southern California. 

Dignity Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Learn more at DignityHealth.org and CommonSpirit.org.