Health and Fitness : Area organizations receive St. Luke's Rural Healthcare Grant funds

Cedar Rapids—Seven Eastern Iowa organizations are the recipients of $13,879 in grants as part of UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Foundation’s Rural Healthcare Grant. This program provides matching grants toward healthcare projects that improve the health and wellness of rural residents. This year’s matching grant recipients are:

· Benton County Volunteer Program received $1,000 to fund transportation expenses for volunteer drivers.

· Blairstown Volunteer Ambulance Service received $789 to purchase one Scoop Stretcher – Combi Carrier II.

· Midlands Community Ambulance Service received $1,500 to purchase one Evacuation Stair Chair.

· North Benton Ambulance received $3,500 to assist with EMT Skill Advancement Training.

· Retired and Senior Volunteer Program received $1,000 to fund transportation expenses for volunteer drivers.

· Volunteer Services of Cedar County received $1,000 to fund transportation expenses for volunteer drivers.

· Walker Fire and Rescue was awarded $5,000 to assist with EMT Skill Advancement Training.

St. Luke’s Foundation awarded the first Rural Healthcare Grants in 1980 to Mechanicsville Fire and East Poweshiek Ambulance. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than $300,000 in matching grants to support emergency medical services in Benton, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Poweshiek counties.

The Foundation created the Rural Healthcare Endowment through corporate and individual donations. St. Luke’s associates also contributed their 1995-96 “I Care – The Employee Giving Campaign” to the endowment. Most recently, the Foundation had two additional endowments established to benefit the Rural Healthcare Grant Program:

• In 2004, the Mary Beulah and Florence Usher Endowment
• In 2009, the Benton-Linn Rural Healthcare Fund

Community members can help support St. Luke’s Rural Healthcare Grant by giving contributions of any amount. Additional gifts build the endowment and helps fund even more rural healthcare needs.