Nongovernmental health fund Missouri Foundation for Health has awarded grants totaling nearly $1 million to five Springfield area programs, according to an Oct. 14 MFH news release.
The largest grant, $300,000, was made to the Springfield Urban Agriculture Coalition, as a part of MFH's Healthy & Active Communities funding program. The nonprofit is using the grant to increase production of locally grown food in area neighborhoods and schools and to increase education about urban gardening, the release said.
Two others, Bolivar-based Polk County Health Center and the city of Ozark, were awarded grants from the same funding program.
The Bolivar center was awarded $299,973 for use in an effort to increase physical activity and healthy eating in workplaces.
The city of Ozark received $192,425 for use in improving pedestrian and bike pathways, as well as to provide health education and recreational programming.
Missouri State University received more than $163,595, which will fund the MSU School of Social Work's Senior Health University program, which has instructors and students providing health information and training to rural adults older than age 60. The funding came from the MFH's Health Literacy program.
Burrell Behavioral Health - through the MFH's Mental Health & Substance Abuse program - received $10,000, which it is using to expand its co-occurring disorders treatment and training capabilities, according to the release.
MFH, which is in its eighth year of providing grants, has issued more than $390 million statewide, the release said.[[In-content Ad]]
