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Northwest Health Foundation Expands Community Grant Making Through New Fund; Foundation to Team With Kaiser Permanente to Improve Local Health

Posted on: Thursday, 13 January 2005, 15:00 CST

Northwest Health Foundation (NWHF) is announcing the establishment of the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund. It is anticipated that the Foundation will begin grant distribution from the new Fund's assets later in 2005. The Fund is expected to allow for grants of substantial size for several years.

Thomas Aschenbrener is President of Northwest Health Foundation, which is an independent foundation dedicated to seeking solutions to today's health care problems in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Aschenbrener noted, "We share the same values and commitment to improving the health of local communities as are demonstrated every day by the physicians, dentists, nurses and employees of Kaiser Permanente." Aschenbrener added, "The new Kaiser Permanente Community Fund will expand our annual grant making for community health programs. This Fund will help us advance community health by leveraging our resources and collaborating on shared health goals."

Cynthia Finter, Regional President for Kaiser Permanente's Northwest Region, noted that the Fund would address culturally appropriate access to health care for the vulnerable and uninsured, reduce disparities in health among different populations, and address the underlying causes of disease. "We know that improving the health of the communities where our members live is the right thing to do," she continued. "Northwest Health Foundation has an excellent record in working with community organizations, as well as developing programs to address areas of unmet need. This relationship will ensure that organizations that are most effective in meeting community health needs will have access to sufficient resources for a sustained effort."

Under its arrangement with Northwest Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente will appoint an advisory committee to work with Foundation staff in the development of programs and evaluation of applications. The Foundation anticipates a distribution plan and schedule will be in place in the next several months. The first grants will be made in 2005. NWHF will inform the community of the topics and grant cycles for this Fund as soon as they have been fully developed. New grants will be made over a period of years until the Fund's assets are fully distributed.

Northwest Health Foundation (NWHF) was created in 1997 from proceeds of the sale of PACC Health Plan and HMO. NWHF's mission is to advance, promote and support the health of the community through our grants and technical assistance programs. NWHF supports donor-advised funds for health philanthropy throughout the Pacific Northwest. NWHF values working with communities to identify and address community health needs and embraces the role as "The Community's Partner for Better Health."

Kaiser Permanente is a group practice health care organization founded in 1945 and serving the health needs of more than 450,000 people in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Source: Business Wire

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