Blue Shield of California Foundation Awards $13.2 Million Statewide to Promote Health Care Access and Quality, and to End Domestic Violence; Giving for 2006 Expected to Reach Nearly $30 Million.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) today announced grants of $13.2 million to 315 nonprofit organizations throughout California that are expanding access to health coverage, ending domestic violence and advancing the use of technology to improve access to quality health care.

"Our giving reflects our passion for improving the health and lives of Californians," said Crystal Hayling, president of the Blue Shield of California Foundation. "By funding non-profits that are in the trenches delivering direct services, we can strengthen the safety net for our state's most vulnerable residents. At the same time, we are working with a wide range of partners on the long-term struggle to improve access to quality health care for every Californian."

The current round of grants brings the foundation's giving for the year to $20.7 million and it expects to bring that total to nearly $30 million by the end of this year. Some highlights of the $13.2 million in grants just awarded:

--$6.9 million will go to 197 community clinics throughout the state as part of the 2006 BSCF Core Support Initiative for Community Clinics. The grants range in size from $20,000 to $60,000 and will be used for general operating support for clinics that serve large numbers of uninsured patients.

--$2.88 million will go to 108 organizations fighting domestic violence and helping to better treat victims. Of that, $2.12 million will go to 99 shelter organizations throughout the state as part of the BSCF Domestic Violence Shelter Initiative. The grants range in size from $10,000 to $40,000 and will be used for general operating support by organizations that are helping women and children escape from violent situations. As a reflection of the foundation's continuing commitment to this issue, these grants were extended to two years. Among other grants, $150,000 was awarded to the Youth Radio program in Berkeley to develop a new Youth Sound Off! Dating and Relationships Program to raise awareness of the problem of dating violence among youth.

--$1.4 million will go to phase two of the Blue Shield of California Foundation Hospital Scholarship Program in support of the national Institute for Healthcare Improvement's "100K Lives" Campaign. Of this amount, $900,000 will be allocated to public, district and rural hospitals, and awards will be made this fall and early next year.

--$758,640 will go to programs in Fresno, Kern and Santa Cruz counties to help maintain health coverage for children through their respective Healthy Kids programs. This includes $359,600 for the California Health Collaborative in Fresno to enroll 300 children, as well as $299,040 for the Friends of Mercy Foundation in Bakersfield and $100,000 for the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County to enroll approximately 100 children each.

The Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the largest health care grant-making organizations in California, awarding $30 million last year. The foundation was formed by Blue Shield of California, a not-for-profit corporation with more than 3.2 million members, 4,300 employees and 20 offices throughout California. For more information, visit the Blue Shield of California website at www.mylifepath.com or the Foundation at www.blueshieldcafoundation.org.