Area nonprofits awarded $198,000 to provide access to health care services
More than 15 percent of Oklahomans are living with diabetes, according to the Oklahoma Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. The cost of treating and managing this disease can be a heavy monetary burden, especially for individuals without access to quality health care. Thanks to recent grants from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s Access to Health Care iFund program, several free, nonprofit clinics in central Oklahoma will be able to provide free and low-cost services for low-income and uninsured diabetics.
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation Board of Trustees have approved $198,000 in Access to Health Care iFund grants to eight metropolitan area charitable organizations providing access to basic and preventive health care services in central Oklahoma.
“Through our application process we recognized the great need for diabetes treatment and preventive dental care in the community,” says Nancy B. Anthony. “We are pleased to award iFund grants to eight nonprofit groups to help address these and other health care concerns.”
The Trustees approved the following grants from the Access to Health Care iFund:
- Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City/St. Charles-McAuley Free Clinic - $10,000 to provide free diabetes care and education for uninsured patients.
- Cross and Crown Mission - $24,000 to provide free diabetes care and education for uninsured patients at its medical clinic.
- Good Shepherd Ministries - $24,000 to provide free diabetes care and education for uninsured patients at its medical clinic.
- INTEGRIS Baptist Community Clinic - $16,000 to help support a case management program to provide free ongoing diabetes care and education for uninsured patients.
- Lighthouse Medical Ministries - $24,000 to provide free diabetes care and education for low-income and uninsured patients at its medical clinic.
Additionally, the Trustees approved the following three grants through the Access to Health Care iFund program:
- A Chance To Change Foundation - $40,000 for a substance abuse education program for adolescents and teens.
- Dentists for the Disabled and Elderly in Need of Treatment, Inc. (D-DENT) - $20,000 to expand its dental care program for low-income and uninsured military veterans.
- Neighborhood Services Organization - $40,000 to provide low-cost preventive dental care and oral health education for low-income and uninsured patients at its dental clinic.
The iFund grant program awards grants to nonprofit organizations in central Oklahoma that provide direct services for children, elderly and access to health care. Upcoming iFund grant deadlines are April 2 for the Opportunities for Children iFund and July 2 for the Services for Elderly iFund. Additional information including grant application guidelines is available at www.ifundokc.org.
