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NORTHAMPTON - If you had the resources, what would you do to make your community a healthier place to live, work and play? The Cooley Dickinson Hospital Healthy Communities Committee wants to know and invites Hampshire and Franklin County groups to submit their ideas.
The Healthy Communities Committee, a subcommittee of the CDH Board of Trustees, will award grants totaling $25,000 to community members who put their ideas into action. Grants will be accepted through the end of day Monday, June 20. The Healthy Communities Committee will oversee the distribution of the grants and invites area residents to apply for the following:
- Capacity Building Grant to build capacity for local leadership to effect change at the system and policy levels in at least one of the following areas: 1) Increase healthy eating and access to healthy, affordable food; 2) Increase physical activity. One applicant will be selected. The grant award will be up to $15,000.
- Community Projects Grants to implement projects, programs or policies that effect change in at least one of the following areas: 1) Increase healthy eating and access to healthy, affordable food; 2) Increase physical activity. Multiple applicants will be selected. Grant awards will be up to $5,000. A total of $10,000 is available. The committee anticipates funding 2-3 projects.
These grant opportunities are part of a broader effort by Cooley Dickinson Hospital and its community partners to assess residents' health needs and to provide opportunities for communities to address the root causes of poor health before these health conditions reach acute stages that could require hospitalization. Investing in community initiatives that seek to increase healthy eating and physical activity can make an impact on the high rates of chronic disease and obesity that are prevalent in the region.
As part of Cooley Dickinson's investment in radiation oncology treatment equipment, the hospital is mandated by the state Department of Public Health's Determination of Need program to support community health projects. Cooley Dickinson uses a grant application process to redistribute funds back to the communities it serves.
For consideration, e-mail your grant proposal to Jeff_Harness@cooley-dickinson.org; grant applications are due Monday, June 20, 2011. View the grant guidelines here, or call (413) 540-0600, ex. 101.
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