3 Rivers Community Foundation Announces $415,000 in Grants to Address Social Determinants of Health

3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) was selected by the Greater Columbia Accountable Community of Health and the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance to distribute $414,795 to nonprofits in Benton and Franklin counties to address critical community issues. 3RCF has selected 9 projects to fund, tackling the issues of food insecurity, behavioral health, and housing. These are the largest grants 3RCF will award this year.

“The 3RCF Board jumped right in to making these grants,” says Abbey Cameron, Executive Director of 3RCF. “This funding comes at a critical time as the pressures of the pandemic begin to ease for some but not all. We heard loud and clear through this process that access to food, housing insecurity, and most of all access to mental health services are key issues that need to be addressed now and these organizations are making huge efforts to do so.”

Social Determinant of Health Grants:

• Communities in Schools - $75,000 to address housing by providing emergency funds to families at risk.
• Domestic Violence Service of Benton and Franklin counites - $91,918 to support temporary housing costs and other needs of clients receiving services.
• Pasco Union Firefighters - $20,000 to create an emergency fund for their Resource Navigator.
• Support Advocacy Resource Center - $88,777 to improve behavioral health access by funding a licensed practitioner.
• Chaplaincy Health Care - $44,100 to fund an additional group counselor to improve access to services at Cork’s Place.
• Second Harvest - $30,000 to fund continuation of the Mobile Market program.
• Lutheran Community Services - $25,000 to fund additional mental health training for staff and the community.
• Teen Challenge Tri-Cities – $25,000 to fund Operating Red Eye providing food to underserved areas.
• Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities - $15,000 to support a therapist to offer behavioral health services in partnership with community agencies.

 
Responses from some of the funded organizations:
“This funding will allow us to provide support for nearly 120 families, who without assistance, face the very real threat of becoming unhoused” says Joely Nye-Felt, Development Director of Communities in Schools. “CISBF will work in partnership with Safe Harbor to empower families as they strive towards greater self-sufficiency and brighter futures for their children.”
“In our Path to Success class, participants learn about horse body parts, waiting their turn, communicating, cooperating, and advancing their confidence that they are capable of learning something new,” says Cynthia McFarland of Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities. “A parent shared this with us…. My daughter has Autism Spectrum 11, ADHD, and Learning Disabilities. I try to keep her in programs that will help with her behavioral issues. She loves horses and TROT makes it fun for her while she is learning. She looks forward to her classes. Thank you!”
“The grant funds received from the 3 Rivers Community Foundation will make a lasting impact into the future by enabling Cork’s Place Grief Support Center to help meet the increased demand for grief care and support that has been compounded by the effects of COVID-19 in the community today.” Daniel Lipparelli, Director of Development with Chaplaincy Health Care.
“This grant will support training for our staff and community, helping them support clients, peers and struggling loved ones,” says Amy Marinoni-Redmond of Lutheran Community Services. “It will also help us continue breaking the stigmas of mental health, offering expanded education opportunities for many people in our region. We are grateful for the support!” 
“Being able to immediately address the clients needs not only provides physical security and safety but also gives hope and a mental boost for the patients, as they realize help is available and coming soon,” says Ben Shearer of Pasco Union Firefighters. “The immediate impact of this grant will allow the Pasco Resource Navigator time to identify and guide individuals towards additional resources and agencies that will assist in creating a better situation for each individual.”
 
“With the funding from 3RCF we are able to be more mobile and serve more food to those that need it most,” says Jesse Campos of Adult & Teen Challenge PNW.  “We are so excited to see the smiles on the faces of those we serve in the community.  Thank you 3RCF!”

To make a donation to 3RCF visit https://threeriverscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate.