El Centro, CA. January 13, 2020. The Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF) announces the start of its grant application cycle of Mission Support funding for eligible nonprofits in Imperial County.

Different from the previous ten years, in which Mission Support funding was administered by the Alliance Healthcare Foundation for eligible Imperial Valley nonprofits, the recently established IVWF Board of Trustees will be running its own grant application cycle in 2020.

Mission Support funding ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 per recipient, totaling $85,000 in 2020.

The Mission Support program is based on the belief that trusting those closest to our constituents, and providing core operating support for great organizations, will best further IVWF’s mission for the most vulnerable.

In alignment with the Imperial County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), IVWF’s Mission Support Funding will be awarded to 501(c)3 non-profits in Imperial County that serve the most vulnerable populations relative to these priority action areas:

• Healthy Eating and Active Living. Impact Targets: healthy eating, food security, and active living
• Community Prevention Linked with High Quality Healthcare. Impact Targets: asthma management, early and adequate prenatal care, and diabetes management
• Healthy and Safe Communities and Living Environments. Impact Targets: prescription drug abuse, dementia, and air quality
• Organizations may use the Mission Support funds provided as they see fit, allowing them to apply the funds in a way that best meets the most pressing needs of the people they serve.

“Supporting great organizations is vital to our mission. Through our Mission Support program, IVWF aims to provide funding to organizations that advance health and wellness of underserved populations in our community, and demonstrate the ability and leadership to deliver high quality outcomes,” stated Cathy Kennerson, Chair, Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation. “We look forward to supporting the social and health impact achieved by this year’s Mission Support grantees.”

2020 Imperial Valley Mission Support Application Schedule
Open: January, 15, 2020 (8:00am PST)
Close: March 2, 2020 (5:00pm PST)
Decisions: April 2020
Grant Disbursements: May 2020
Apply here

##########About Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation. Recognizing a need for more local funding to support promising health initiatives, a group of Imperial Valley civic leaders joined forces to create the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF). IVWF is a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code formed to advance the health and wellness of vulnerable populations in Imperial County. The San Diego-based Alliance Healthcare Foundation, nationally recognized for its innovative health and wellness initiatives, has offered a $7.5 million matching grant to endow IVWF and has provided other direct funding to support start-up operations and initial grant making. Wholly independent from Alliance Healthcare Foundation and locally governed by its own board of trustees, the new Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation is raising an additional $17.5 million through a national capital campaign to create a $25 million endowment that will fund local programs and activities in perpetuity. Visit www.ivwf.org.

IVWF has identified three crucial areas for action in alignment with the Imperial County’s Community Health Assessment & Community Health Improvement Plan:

Health – Healthy Eating, Active Living

• Consumption of affordable, accessible, and nutritious foods
• Engagement in affordable opportunities for physical activity
• Achieving and maintaining healthy weight levels

Prevention – Linked with High Quality Healthcare

• Asthma detection, management, and education
• Prenatal Care – early and adequate
• Diabetes detection, management, and education

Safety – Communities and Living Environments

• Improving air quality
• Drug abuse prevention
• Linking family members, caregivers, and persons living with dementia across systems of care and support

IVWF Board of Trustees (12/17/2019)

• Cathy Kennerson, Chair of the Board; Chief Strategic Officer, El Centro Regional Medical Center
• Anne Irigoyen, Vice Chair; Chief Operating Officer, Ametza, LLC
• Tim Kelley, Secretary; President & CEO, Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp
• Alex Cardenas, Executive Director, CASA Imperial County
• Sara Griffen, Executive Director, Imperial Valley Food Bank
• Jeff Hester, Retired Banker
• Jaime Honold, President, Burgers & Beer Restaurants
• Dr. Helina Hoyt, Nursing Program Coordinator, School of Nursing, SDSU Imperial Valley
• Stephen Jaime, Clinical Nurse Specialist of Diabetes Education, El Centro Regional Medical Center
• Jose Landeros, Vice President, David H. West Insurance
• Dennis Morita, Attorney, Morita Law
• Allen Tyler, Manager, Gallagher Insurance
• Victor Jaime, Interim CEO, Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation

AHF Media contact:
Karen Winston, Communications Director, Alliance Healthcare Foundation
P 858-348-6472 E karen.winston@alliancehf.org