Developing Health Program Aims to Improve Local Access to Primary Care
Dayton, OH, November 18, 2011 - GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of GE, and the GE Corporate Diversity Council today announced a grant award of $250,000 to be divided between two of the four nonprofit health centers under Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton. The Charles Drew and East Dayton health centers will each receive $125,000 in two installments over two years. Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton provides preventive and primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay.
The grant expands the reach of GE's Developing Health program, a $50 million commitment that provides grant funding and GE employee engagement to selected healthcare centers across the United States. This grant is the second one awarded in Ohio, with Dayton being the 18th city to launch the Developing Health program.
"In addition to employing thousands of people in the region, GE's Developing Health initiative underscores our commitment to improve the quality of life for the greater Dayton residents, including those in underserved populations. The importance of community health centers such as Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton are critical to the area. They provide essential services and we are proud to partner with them to meet the growing demand and to support so many in the community," said Tony Foster, vice president, Finance, for GE Capital's Retail Finance business and Developing Health program champion for Dayton, Ohio.
In addition to the grant, the program announced today includes GE volunteer support to all health centers under Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton -- Charles Drew, East Dayton, Corwin Nixon and Victor Cassano. Complementing the financial donation, GE volunteers will draw on their business management skills to ensure that the health centers also benefit from GE's core competencies, including process improvement and business management based on the health centers' needs.
"Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton (CHCGD) is an organization created to provide high-quality, cost-effective health care to the medically underserved. Due to current economic conditions, a rapidly expanding patient population has necessitated accelerated growth for our services and centers. We applaud GE for recognizing these increasing needs, and for providing the human and financial resources to help us meet our goals," adds Gregg Hopkins, executive director, CHDGD.
Developing Health, modeled after GE's successful philanthropic program -- Developing Health Globally - is a $50 million program created by the GE Foundation, GE's philanthropic arm, and the GE Corporate Diversity Council. Launched in October 2009, the program provides GE Foundation grants to support non-profit community health centers, improving primary care access for underserved populations in targeted cities.
Under program guidelines, the GE Foundation provides grants to selected health centers. Grant recipients are selected based on criteria that include, but are not limited to, need, community impact, leadership, willingness to partner with GE volunteers, transparency and accountability. The GE Foundation will not accept unsolicited requests for support.
About the GE Foundation
The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to solve some of the world's most difficult problems. In coordination with its partners, it supports U.S. and international education, Developing Health Globally, the environment, public policy, human rights and disaster relief. In addition, the GE Foundation supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities around the world. In 2009, the entire GE family --- including businesses, employees, retirees and GE Foundation --- contributed more than an estimated $220 million to community and educational programs, including more than $100 million from GE Foundation. For more information, visit www.gefoundation.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
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For more information contact:
For GE (Kettering, OH): Susie Lane, 937-534-8001 or [email protected]
For more information on Developing Health globally visit: http://www.ge.com/citizenship/performance_areas/communities_philanthropy_health.jsp.
For more information on Developing Health visit:
http://www.ge.com/foundation/developing_health.jsp.
For more information on Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton visit: http://www.communityhealthdayton.org/Careers.html
Cristy Williams
[email protected]
678.518.2596