Dignity Health Bakersfield Hosts Drive-Thru Community Grants Parade to Distribute $424,604 to Seven Local Non-Profits

BAKERSFIELD, CA - On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals hosted a drive-thru Community Grants Parade at the Mercy Downtown campus to award $424,604 in 2023 funding to seven Kern County non-profit organizations. Recipients of the 2023 Dignity Health Community Health Improvement Grants Program include:

• Alpha House – Shelter Program -  $75,000
• Alzheimer's Disease Association of Kern County - Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Force -  $53,634
• Bakersfield Pregnancy Center - A Safe Pregnancy Initiative -  $35,000
• Casa Esperanza - Welcome Home Project 2.0 - $68,544
• The Open Door Network - Enhancing Mental Health and Wellness Among Homeless Children in the Champ Camp Afterschool Program -  $55,338
• Saint Vincent de Paul Center - Homeless Assistance Program - $68,544
• Wounded Heroes Fund – Empowering Veterans of Kern County 2023 -  $68,544

Community grants range from $25,000 to $75,000 and support projects and programs benefitting underserved and vulnerable populations in Kern County. To receive consideration for 2023 funding, projects or programs must address significant unmet health and social needs as identified in Mercy and Memorial’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Implementation Strategy. Organizations must also demonstrate collaboration with other organizations and integrate principles that align with the mission and values of our ministry.

The Dignity Health Community Health Improvement Grants Program was established in 1990 as an opportunity to collaborate with other non-profit organizations working to improve the health status and quality of life in communities where Dignity Health hospitals are located. Since the program began, over $6.1 million has been awarded to 74 different agencies in Kern County alone.

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