SANTA CRUZ -- Dignity Health, through Dominican Hospital, has awarded more than $155,000 in grants to eight nonprofits dedicated to improving health, according to Martina O'Sullivan, director of community engagement.

Recipients include:

  • Community Bridges Collaborative for the Health Access Project, which supports optimal use of health benefits and preventive health care for low-income families across Santa Cruz County, primarily targeting farmworkers/service workers and their families.

  • Dientes Community Dental Care for Dientes Cares, serving at least 25 low-income uninsured adults to prevent unnecessary extractions and the need for emergency treatment.

  • Health Improvement Partnership for Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County, which works to enroll all eligible children in Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and the Healthy Kids plan, providing access to health services.

  • Homeless Services Center for a new Recuperative Care Center, giving homeless adults a place to recuperate following hospitalization.

  • Hospice of Santa Cruz County for the Transitions Program, which addresses the psychosocial, emotional and practical needs of individuals diagnosed with life-limiting illness, their caregivers and families.

  • RotaCare Bay Area for the RotaCare Santa Cruz Clinic, which provides health care services to people who are uninsured or underinsured.

  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County for Healthy
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    Families, Healthy Futures, a nutrition education and physical fitness for youth and adults at four low-income housing complexes.

  • United Way of Santa Cruz County for the Jóvenes SANOS Watsonville Healthy Corner Markets Initiative, with a certification program that includes market make-overs and incentives for store owners to offer affordable, healthy options.