(CENTENNIAL, COLO.) -- Today, CommonSpirit Health and the Why Not You Foundation surprised 10 nonprofit organizations from Colorado and Utah, giving each organization a $100,000 grant to help further their work in building healthier communities. Russell Wilson and Ciara, as well as Dr. Oswaldo Grenardo, SVP and Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, were on hand to present each nonprofit with its check.
The special event at Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at the Centura Health Training Center, home of the Denver Broncos, was the latest in the partnership between CommonSpirit and the Why Not You Foundation and their shared goal to positively impact the communities they serve by advocating for the most vulnerable, including children, and addressing systemic issues like mental health, food security, social justice, and health equity.
“At CommonSpirit, we are committed to a mission of serving all people, especially those who are vulnerable,” said Dr. Grenardo, a family physician and Chief Clinical Officer of CommonSpirit’s region covering Colorado, Kansas and Utah. “Through our Health Equity & Advancement Fund, including our partnership with the Why Not You Foundation, we’re investing $5 million this year alone in grants to incredible nonprofit organizations that share our passion for making a positive impact in our communities.”
Since its launch in 2021, the Health Equity & Advancement Fund has granted $11 million to dozens of nonprofits across Colorado, Kansas and Utah. This year’s $5 million in grants was distributed to 48 nonprofit organizations in these three states.
Russell Wilson and Ciara founded the Why Not You Foundation in 2014 to fight poverty through education and to empower youth to lead with a “why not you” attitude. The foundation supports student access to equal education opportunities, children’s health, and food security initiatives.
“We are so proud to partner with each and every one of you as we work together to give our children the future they deserve,” Russell Wilson and Ciara told representatives from the 10 nonprofits during Tuesday’s event. “The work all of you do is inspiring. And together with CommonSpirit our goals can be reached, because it takes a team to make a difference. We are excited and humbled to be here today and make a difference in the lives of children across our region.”
The 10 nonprofits that were granted $100,000 each on Tuesday were:
- Kids in Need of Dentistry (KIND) – Kids in Need of Dentistry increases access to judgment-free, positive oral health experiences, treatment, and education, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
- Fostering Hope Foundation – Fostering Hope Foundation creates a support system for foster families and teens and young adults as they age out of the foster care system and establish their independence.
- Eye Care 4 Kids – Eye Care 4 Kids provides professional eye care to low-income visually impaired children and underserved families. They have helped more than 400,000 children receive care.
- Educating Children of Color – Educating Children of Color is on a mission to break the cycle of poverty and systemic injustice by fostering kids’ aspirations guiding parents and professionals.
- Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD) – CPCD prepares children for success in school and life by providing comprehensive early childhood services. CPCD provides educational, physical and behavioral health, and nutritional services for families in Colorado.
- A Precious Child - In addition to meeting basic human needs through their Resource Centers, A Precious Child also helps children and their families navigate community resources.
- Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver - provide club members with a safe, supportive, enriching environment that inspires and empowers them to achieve their greatest potential.
- Kids First Health Care – Kids Frist Health Care is committed to keeping our community’s most vulnerable and at-risk children healthy, in school, and ready to learn by providing high quality pediatric health care.
- Reach Out and Read - Reach Out and Read Colorado partners with healthcare providers across the state to encourage families with young children to read aloud together, building a foundation for success.
- Kids on Bikes – Kids on Bikes’ mission is to inspire and empower all kids to lead healthy, active and happy lives through bicycling. They provide access to bikes and bicycling education, including bike safety and maintenance, for kids in the Colorado Springs area.
Learn more about CommonSpirit’s Health Equity & Advancement Fund at https://www.mountain.commonspirit.org/community-impact/social-justice/health-equity-advancement-fund.
CommonSpirit assumed direct management of 20 Centura Health hospitals and 240 physician practices and clinics, effective August 1, 2023. Patients who visit one of these facilities will begin to see the transition to the CommonSpirit name. While the name will change, the commitment to delivering high-quality care by many of the same providers and care sites patients know and trust remains the same. For additional information, patients are encouraged to visit https://www.mountain.commonspirit.org/commonspirit.
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About CommonSpirit
CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 by Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. The region of Colorado, Kansas and Utah includes 20 hospitals, 240 physician practices and clinics, emergency and urgent care centers, home care and hospice services, and Flight For Life® Colorado. With its national office in Chicago and a team of over 175,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit operates 142 hospitals and more than 2,200 care sites across 24 states. In FY 2022, CommonSpirit had revenues of $33.9 billion and provided $4.9 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed government programs. Learn more at commonspirit.org.
