Concord, NH – The HNHfoundation awarded more than $779,000 in grants during its 2008 program year. The grant awards benefit various health-related initiatives and projects at 12 non-profit organizations and government agencies throughout New Hampshire. Grants were awarded for work in three focus areas: breaking down barriers to health insurance coverage for children; providing health-related public education; and promoting healthy lifestyles.

“Especially during these challenging times, I’m pleased the Foundation is able to honor our multi-year commitments to organizations making a difference on behalf of children and families,” said Sandi Van Scoyoc, HNHfoundation president.  “Now more than ever, we need to insure access to health care coverage for kids.  And, we need to prevent illness by creating environments that support healthy living.” 

The following grants were awarded to breakdown barriers to health insurance coverage for children:

Institute for Health, Law & Ethics, Concord – $15,000
Service Area: Statewide. This grant is for general operating support.

NH Department of Health and Human Services, Concord – $250,000
Service Area: Statewide. To cover a portion of the costs of the State Child Health Insurance (SCHIP) premiums for those children whose family income is between 250 percent and 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This is the Foundation’s tenth and final year of funding for this purpose.

NH Healthy Kids Corporation, Concord – $50,000
Service Area: Statewide. This grant is for general operating support.

The following grants were awarded to provide health-related public education:

Children’s Alliance of NH, Concord – $15,000
Service Area: Statewide. This grant is for general operating support.

NH Public Health Association, Concord – $25,000
Service Area: Statewide. Funds will be used to support a policy director position to enable the organization to have an expanded role in defining and promoting the broad public health interests in the state. 

NH Women’s Alliance-NH Voices, Concord – $49,091
Service Area: Statewide. This award supports the NH Voices for Health Network in the area of strategic communications, core staff, project evaluation and network leadership stipends.

The following grants were awarded to promote healthy lifestyles:

Healthy Eating Active Living, Concord – $200,020
Service Area: Statewide. This award supports the implementation of the Healthy Eating Active Living Action Plan for New Hampshire.

Keene State College, Keene – $45,865
Service Area: Statewide. This funding supports the Early Sprouts Program: Garden and Nutritional Experiences for the Young Child.  This applied research project is an obesity prevention program aimed at increasing young children’s food preferences for and consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. This is the second year of funding for this project. 

Kensington Elementary School, Kensington – $4,091
Service Area: Local Community. This project supports maintenance work on the walking track.  The path will be upgraded to a safer and more user-friendly track. The grant also supports the purchase of pedometers, a healthy snack taste-testing for students and parents, a healthy eating presentation for students and the production of a nutrition education DVD. This is the third and final year of funding.

NH Dental Society Foundation, Concord – $19,509
Service Area: Statewide. This award supports the NH Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health/Body Mass Index Assessment for New Hampshire third graders. The statewide survey will provide data for ongoing surveillance of oral health indicators and baseline weight status data for third graders at the state and county levels.

Media Power Youth, Manchester – $35,000
Service Area: Statewide. This award supports media and nutrition lessons for children, teens and families. A portion of the funding will go toward organizational capacity building and technical resources as Media Power Youth transitions into an independent, nonprofit organization.

UNH Cooperative Extension, Durham – $70,501
Service Area: Statewide. This award supports the Healthy Eating Active Living website, www.healnh.org. The website communicates information to New Hampshire citizens and professionals interested in healthy lifestyles, supports a statewide social marketing campaign, and provides online resources, news and forums about healthy eating and active living in New Hampshire.

The HNHfoundation is a private health foundation committed to evaluating and promoting access to quality health insurance coverage and healthy lifestyles for the residents of New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.hnhfoundation.org.