WICHITA, Kan. – In continuing its efforts to support healthy living among Kansans, the Kansas Health Foundation has awarded a total of nearly $2 million in grants to 22 organizations working to improve healthy eating, active living and tobacco prevention in the state.

The grantees—including universities, nonprofit organizations, state agencies and municipalities—received funding through a competitive application process, with individual grant awards of up to $100,000. Initiatives funded emphasized strategies intended to lead to implementation of policy, systems and environmental interventions with the potential to impact a broad population. Through this type of grant making, the Foundation opens up to Kansans who have the experience, know-how and inspiration to tackle some of the toughest issues facing public health today and provides the funding needed to see their mission accomplished.

“Providing funding to organizations poised to make an impact on major health issues like obesity and tobacco use is crucial to our work and the overall health landscape in Kansas,” said Jeff Willett, vice president for programs at the Kansas Health Foundation. “These are health problems that affect the lives of many Kansans, and are increasingly concentrated among Kansans of lower socioeconomic status, further compounding health and economic disparities in our state.”

The Kansas Health Foundation is a health philanthropy with the resources, stability and vision to strengthen Kansas, igniting the promise of a better quality of life at a time when limited well- being affects every Kansas community. Funding for healthy living initiatives represents one way the Foundation seeks to address issues of tobacco use and obesity in Kansas. Smoking and obesity remain the leading causes of preventable death and illness in the state, and combine to cost Kansas more than $2 billion annually in unnecessary health care costs.

Recipients of the health living grants include:

• American Heart Association, $100,000
• City of Wichita, $100,000
• Family Conservancy, $100,000
• Guidance Center, $100,000
• Harvesters – The Community Food Network, $100,000
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment, $100,000
• Rosedale Development Association, $100,000
• Thrive Allen County, $100,000
• USD 497 – Lawrence Public Schools, $99,871
• University of Kansas Center for Research, $99,842
• University of Kansas Endowment Association, $99,625
• Children’s Mercy Hospital, $99,498
• Kansas State University, $98,505
• Wichita State University Foundation, $98,175
• Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, $97,214
• Reno County Health Department, $94,530
• Kansas Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics, $79,200
• Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, $79,000
• Fort Hays State University, $66,226
• Harvey County Health Department, $58,935
• Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, $58,388
• Wichita County Economic Development, $51,260

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