HSV AMBUCS Awarded HSV HOSPITAL CHI GRANT

Since 1996, Huntsville Hospital’s Community Health Initiative has given away more than $6.6 million to nonprofit groups working to keep Madison County healthy. (The Huntsville Times file photo)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Huntsville Hospital has awarded $541,000 in grant money to 14 nonprofit agencies working to keep Madison County healthy.

The annual Community Health Initiative grant awards were announced this morning at the Huntsville-Madison County Health Department. The program has given away a total of $6.6 million to 39 different nonprofits since 1996.

“It’s purpose is to take health care beyond the walls of the hospital, and I think we’ve done a fabulous job,” said Jean Templeton, a member of the hospital’s board of directors.

This year’s grant recipients are:

• Community Free Clinic, $110,000 to continue providing free medical care to the homeless and others without insurance.

• Health Establishments at Local Schools (HEALS), $110,000 to provide school-based medical and dental care and health education to children from low-income families.

• New Hope Children’s Clinic, $75,000 to provide free or low cost school-based care to children in southeastern Madison County.

• CASA, $70,000 to provide services for aging and homebound seniors.

• Mental Health Center of Madison County, $50,000 for mental health services in Huntsville and Madison County schools.

• The Arc of Madison County, $38,000 to provide education, job skills training and support services for people with intellectual disabilities.

• Autism Resource Foundation, $28,000 to provide education and other support to families of children with autism spectrum disorders.

• The Pathfinder, $15,000 to provide long-term residential addiction treatment.

• Riley Behavioral & Educational Center, $15,000 to provide comprehensive services to children and families faced with autism and related disabilities.

• United Cerebral Palsy, $7,500 for a program that offers mental health treatment to disabled individuals and their caregivers.

• Huntsville and Tennessee Valley Friends Chapter of AMBUCS, $6,500 for therapeutic tricycles that create mobility and independence for people with disabilities.

• First Stop, $6,000 for outreach, care and case management support for the county’s homeless population.

• ALS Association Alabama chapter, $5,000 to provide services to people suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, a fatal neuromuscular disorder.

• Lilies of the Valley, $5,000 to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.