PRESS RELEASE For immediate release March 24, 2021
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FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Sheila Sarhangi Hawai‘i Community Foundation (808) 772-0718 Mobile ssarhangi@hcf-hawaii.org
STATEWIDE GRANTS EXTEND CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS TO VACCINATE HAWAI‘I’S UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS Investment of nearly $2.5M to Federally Qualified Health Centers in telehealth and vaccine rollout grants create a critical bridge as organizations await federal funding HONOLULU — To support the critical work of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the wellbeing of their communities, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) announced today a new investment in the form of grants to support and accelerate community vaccination efforts. With the aim of FQHCs to vaccinate an estimated 20,000 of our most vulnerable people over the next three months, the new round of grants will extend the impact of the HCF’s telehealth grants of $1.3 million awarded in January 2021, an effort conducted in partnership with The Freeman Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association. Collectively, nearly $2.5 million has been donated in the last six months to community health centers across the state to ensure that the organizations have the essential tools to meet the needs of their communities during the pandemic. “Community health centers have always played a vital role in Hawai‘i and the past year has made their value even clearer,” says Chris van Bergeijk, senior vice president and chief impact officer at HCF. “By increasing our investment in the capacities of Hawai‘i’s community health centers, we intend to fortify and accelerate the impact of a wide range of initiatives addressing the needs of the medically underserved that have long existed in our islands.” The 15 FQHCs across Hawai‘i will receive $1.09 million from HCF’s Hawai‘i Resilience Fund, Maui and Big Island Strong Funds and Kaua‘i Health Fund for vaccination efforts. Approximately 90 percent of the grant monies will be used to offset staffing costs, helping to preserve and create vitally important jobs. More broadly, the grants are intended to address technological, language and geographic barriers to administer vaccines among historically underserved populations; mitigate transportation challenges in rural areas; serve the special needs of people without housing or internet connectivity; and establish systems to make it easier for patients to schedule and receive vaccines. Grant recipients will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding patient prioritization,