Barton Foundation awards $100,000 in community health grants

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Barton Foundation has awarded a record $100,000 in its annual Community Health Grant funding. This is in addition to more than $170,000 in grants given to local families and individuals from its COVID-19 Response Fund.

The 13 Lake Tahoe-based organizations that were awarded share Barton Health’s commitment to addressing the most urgent health needs in the area: mental and behavioral health, substance use, and access to care.

The organizations selected for a Community Health Grant serve the area’s most vulnerable populations and those in need:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra: For youth mentorship and support programs

Bread & Broth: To address food insecurities faced by children and adults

Boys & Girls Club: For health and safety upgrades in group environments

Child Advocates of El Dorado (CASA): Helping recruit and train advocates for at-risk youth

El Dorado County Office of Education: For learning programs supporting children in need

Tahoe Senior Plaza: Increasing access to health resources for low-income seniors

Live Violence Free: To provide bilingual mental health services for victims of abuse

Mountain High Recovery Center: For telehealth services treating substance use disorders

SOS Outreach: Offering youth mentorship programs for emotional skill development

South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition: For drug abuse awareness and prevention education
Suicide Prevention Network: Supporting suicide awareness and prevention programs

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless: Increasing safety resources for at-risk populations

Tahoe Magic: To provide food, shelter, and relief for local families impacted by the coronavirus

Barton Foundation Executive Director, Chris Kiser, shared this was possible due to the generosity of donors who support Barton’s goal of advancing community health.

"Philanthropy plays an important role in the well-being of our community as we face the impacts of COVID-19,” said Kiser. “Community health and collaboration is a pillar of Barton Health, and we are pleased to support fellow nonprofits and organizations that share our commitment to addressing mental health and substance use, as well as improving access to care. These services are needed now more than ever."

Grant applications went through a review process by a selection committee of Foundation Board of Trustees members and representatives from local nonprofit organizations. Funding criteria included prioritization of addressing mental and behavioral health, substance use, and access to care - the most urgent health issues reported by the surveyed community members in Barton’s Community Health Needs Assessment.

More information about the Barton Foundation’s efforts to improve community health, and ways to give can be found at bartonhealth.org/foundation.