Grants are awarded quarterly to "qualified health care providers" who submit grant application forms for condideration by the Charitable Funds Distribution Committee.

Grants awarded

4th Quarter Grants 2009

Entering New Territory for the NSHCF

In December, the Foundation funded grant requests for a touchless thermometer for the Cook County schools, medical training for the Colvill Fire Department, and, something new to us, funded replacement dental equipment for “Just Kids Dental Health.”

This latter organization has been providing very basic preventive dental care to Cook County school children for several years. They serve low-income school children with limited or no access to dental care, primarily K-8th grade children enrolled on Minnesota Medicaid. Their treatments include dental cleaning, fluoride treatments, sealants, dental health education, new toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and fun prizes.

By operating semi-annual mini-clinics at the school during the school day, they are able to see children whose parents are unable to take their children to a dentist. While their service catches children who would probably not see a dentist, they cannot provide the x-rays a complete dental checkup really requires.

Since this was a real learning experience for us, our board member Dr. Alyssa Hedstrom, dentist and Rita Plourde, Director of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic have teamed up to find a way to provide that further treatment to those children needing it. Dr. Hedstrom was already offering an annual special treatment day for those folks unable to afford it. However, with the Clinic’s help, they hope to offer more extensive coverage to the adults and children in Cook County who cannot afford even basic dental health care, by sponsoring a special dental health day this fall. We will have more complete details in our July newsletter.


Second Quarter Grants 2009

The board voted to approve the Charitable Funds Distribution Committee’s decision to approve the following grants totaling $10,677, about half of the requests received:

Cook County Higher Education is moving to a new facility in a
remodeled church. We granted $3500 for a science lab work station.

Cook County North Shore Hospital Physical Therapy Department was granted $1250 to continue staff training for a Postural alignment specialist.

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic was the big winner in this grant cycle. They received $4,000 for the first half of a bladder scanner (see article on this subject) as well as $1245 for a new skeleton and other anatomical models that help the providers with explanations to patients. They also got another $682 for the 600# scale that was funded last quarter because when it was delivered it turned out that the railings and platform were too small.

These grants and the hospice development grants bring the total of all grants distributed since 1995 to $368,842! Congratulations to all the donors who make this good work possible.



Grants awarded

Grants received

Grant application form

Click here for grant application form

Testimonials

"Thank You North Shore Health Care Foundation!"

"I want to thank you for the great donation for our education. It is very appreciated! It means a lot to me to be able to get my education here in Grand Marais" — A nursing student

"Thank you for seeing the value of exercise for our community members and for believing in the power of prevention." — Upper Shore Fitness Center

"Thanks to the Health Care Foundation for your generous gift of money for the purchase of our IV training arm. This training equipment will be extremely valuable as we begin to train the next generation of nursing staff." — North Shore Hospital nursing staff

"Because of your generous support, we are able to provide this well-rounded Fire Safety Education Program. Thanks … on behalf of all the young people who will be touched by your helping hand." — Grand Marais Fire Department

"In these days of shrinking budgets, it’s nice to know there is still somewhere to go for that little extra. The money you have provided will allow us to continue not just a barebones screening program, but a quality environment that is welcoming of families and supportive of early childhood health and education. What a good feeling!" — Early Childhood Screening team

"The North Shore Hospital is delighted to receive a grant for dietary consultation services. The Foundation deserves credit for recognizing the important role that dietary education plays in maintaining good health. The citizens of Cook County are fortunate to have this program available."

"Thank you to the Foundation for approving grant funds for an adjustable, accessible exam table for the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic. This new purchase will allow the Clinic to continue to provide the best possible care for the patients in our community."

"It is good to know that there is a caring group of people in the county that are able to help those of us trying to better our health care education." — Medical Lab Technician student