News & Events

July 23, 2008

Note: A list of grant recipient organizations and amounts is attached.

CLEVELAND, Ohio/July 23, 2008 — The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland has made its initial round of funding aimed at reducing health and educational disparities in Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood. As outlined in its new strategic plan, the Foundation has committed to a “special emphasis” on the Central Neighborhood, where health and educational disparities are among the highest in the City.

Though much progress has been made with new housing and community development efforts, the Central Neighborhood continues to face health and education challenges. According to a study commissioned by the Foundation and conducted by Cleveland State University and the Center for Community Solutions, nearly half the adult population in the Central Neighborhood does not have a high school diploma and only four percent of the population has a Bachelors degree, contributing to significant unemployment.

Community health indicators in Central also show significant disparities in risk factors for chronic disease and years of potential life lost. The Foundation also received proposals highlighting the impact of poverty on the physical and behavioral health needs of children. .

This initial funding announcement was a first step in a community engagement process. The Foundation sought to identify and learn more about existing programs in Central and to provide an opportunity for those organizations to both test new ideas and expand existing services.

This information and other components of the community engagement effort in Central will be directed by Adriennie Hatten, Program Officer for Education. Such community input will guide the Foundation as it seeks to develop effective partnerships and align future investments with community health and education needs.

Grantees working to address educational disparities include the American Red Cross, which received funding of $30,000 to provide employment and emergency preparedness training to adults lacking marketable job skills. Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) received $75,000, the largest amount awarded to address educational disparities. A new program called Reaching Individual Success in Education, or R.I.S.E., will provide academic and enrichment programs to 200 children and teens ages three to 18 living in CMHA estates in Central.

Funding to address disparities in health included a grant of $81,270 to support a collaborative effort by St. Vincent Charity Hospital and its Joslin Diabetes Center and the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. Program goals involve identifying gaps in access and implementing additional best practices for diabetes outreach.

In addition its grants in the Central Neighborhood, the Foundation advanced its support of the Housing First model of permanent supportive housing in Cuyahoga County. Funding of $74,305 will be used to develop a qualitative and quantitative evaluation process to study the program’s progress at reducing chronic homelessness.

In a separate action, the Sisters of Charity Foundation has administered this year’s grant from the Rev. Vincent P. Haas Fund with an award of $4,377 to Transitional Housing, Inc. in Cleveland. Dedicated to helping inner-city schools and programs that support women in transition, the Fund commemorates Rev. Haas who was Pastor of Cleveland’s St. Colman’s Church at the time of his death in 1977. Rev. Haas also worked closely with the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron and was a pioneer in the development of the Catholic Interracial Council.

ABOUT THE SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OF CLEVELAND
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland serves as a grantmaker, collaborator and advocate for those most in need. In 2006, the Sisters of Charity Foundation joined with the Saint Ann Foundation — America’s first “healthcare conversion” foundation — to form a single organization. The combined Foundation has awarded more than $54 million in grants through 2007.

Current funding priorities for the Sisters of Charity Foundation across Cuyahoga County include initiatives to reduce chronic homelessness through permanent supportive housing and address disparities in health by improving health literacy.

The Foundation also works to build awareness of the many contributions of Catholic women religious and to support their vital health and human service ministries. In addition, local efforts responding to basic human needs such as food or clothing are eligible for the annual Good Samaritan grant program.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland was established by the Sisters of Charity Health System in 1996 through sale proceeds involving St. Vincent Charity Hospital, which has been located in Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood for more than 145 years.

The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine established the Saint Ann Foundation in 1973 with funds from the sale of Saint Ann Hospital which served Cleveland women and children for 100 years.

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Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland
SECOND QUARTER 2008 GRANT AWARDS
TOTAL: $521,264

EDUCATION DISPARITIES $301,000
American Red Cross, Cleveland
Central Empowerment: Supported Training & Emergency Preparedness Program $30,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland
Building Capacity for One-to-One Mentoring Programs $25,000
Boy Scouts of America-Greater Cleveland, Cleveland
Central Neighborhood Scoutreach Program $30,000
Catholic Charities Community Services Corporation, Cleveland
Promoting Achievement in Childhood Education $18,000
The City Mission, Cleveland
Strategic Planning for the Pathways and Neighborhood Ministries $10,000
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cleveland
Reaching Individual Success in Education $75,000
Lighthouse Inc. , Cleveland
Planning Program $10,000
Marion Sterling School/St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland
Marion Sterling School Community Partnership $22,000
Progressive Arts Alliance Incorporated, Cleveland
Integrated Residency Program $25,000
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland
2008 Youth Financial Education Experience $6,000
Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Cleveland
HEALTH DISPARITIES $141,582
Applewood Centers, Inc., Cleveland
Project Reconnect $36,800
Recovery Resources, Cleveland
Mommy & Me Program $23,512
St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland
Identifying & Tackling Disparities in Diabetes $81,270

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING $74,305
Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., Cleveland
Evaluation for Housing First $74,305

REV. VINCENT P. HAAS FUND $4,377
Transitional Housing, Inc. , Cleveland $4,377

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