Allegany Franciscan Ministries Awards 1.8 Million Dollars in Grants to Local Nonprofit Organizations.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Board of Trustees of Allegany Franciscan Ministries awarded grants totaling $1,816,000 to 21 nonprofit community organizations in Florida in its recent grant cycle. Currently, 145 nonprofit organizations in three regions of Florida receive funding from Allegany Franciscan Ministries.

"Allegany Franciscan Ministries is dedicated to increasing access to health services and improving the overall health status of underserved and disenfranchised persons," said Allegany Franciscan Ministries' chairperson Marlene Weidenborner, OSF. Sr. Marlene added, "We are blessed to have this opportunity to support and partner with organizations working to improve the health and lives of those most in need in our communities."

Seven grants that were awarded to organizations serving Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties include American Heart Association ($175,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast ($75,000), The Franciscan Center ($75,000), Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County ($125,000), Morton Plant Hospital Association ($150,000), and BayCare Health Systems ($400,000 for two programs).

Four grants totaling $212,000 were awarded in Miami-Dade County, including Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center ($50,000), Peace Education Foundation ($50,000), South Florida Mental Health Association ($62,000) and Mercy Hospital Foundation ($50,000).

In Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, eleven grants were awarded, including Migrant Association of South Florida/Caridad Center ($125,000), Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County ($111,000), Inter-Cultural Family Health Education Center ($165,000) and Palm Beach County Medical Society Services ($168,000).

In addition, grants of $5,000 each were awarded for the following programs in Palm Beach, Martin or St. Lucie Counties: Big Heart Brigade, Boynton Beach Planned Approach to Community Health (P.A.T.C.H), Early Learning Coalition of Martin County, Florida Community Health Center, Healthy Alternatives & Body Image Tools, Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation, and Northwood Baptist Church.

Local community members serve on three regional commissions charged with the task of reviewing grant applications and recommending grants to the Allegany Franciscan Ministries board of trustees. The regional commissioners worked throughout 2006 to identify the final award recipients.

About Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.

Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit Catholic organization focused on improving the overall health status of individuals through increasing access to health services and information. Guided by the tradition and vision of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and a member of Catholic Health East, Allegany Franciscan Ministries provides grants to organizations in three regions of Florida: Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, and the Tampa Bay area of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Allegany Franciscan Ministries strives to be a catalyst for systemic change, committing resources and working collaboratively to promote physical, mental, spiritual, societal and cultural health and well-being in these communities. For more information visit Allegany Franciscan Ministries' Web site at www.afmfl.org.