Kaiser awards grants to local Sonoma and Marin nonprofits

Kaiser Permanente has awarded nearly half a million dollars to local nonprofit groups in Marin and Sonoma counties that, among other things, promote improved health care access, healthy eating, active living, oral health, mental health and substance abuse services.

Sonoma County based programs include Petaluma People Services Center’s Bounty Healthy Food Education program; La Luz Center’s Community Cares in Sonoma; the Northern California Center for Wellbeing’s Active Play Every Day program; and the Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese’s Uvisa program, which provides emergency assistance for immigrant victims.

“We are proud to support work that helps improve the health of the communities we serve,” Judy Coffey, RN, senior vice president and area manager for the Marin-Sonoma Area, said in a statement.

Kaiser said its grant-giving this year is part of its community benefits program. Nonprofit hospitals are required to make contributions to maintain their tax-exempt status.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at (707) 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.