Saint Vincent Hospital’s Community Benefit Program  Funds 18 of Greater Worcester’s Charitable Organizations

Saint Vincent Hospital today announced that its Community Benefit Program will fund grants for 18 charitable organizations from the Greater Worcester area. The grant awards will be presented at a special reception scheduled for June 19, 2007 at the hospital.

The hospital’s administration approved of the committee’s recommendations in late May.

“We are dedicated to reaching out and helping the community that we serve,” noted John E. Smithhisler, President and CEO of Saint Vincent Hospital and co-chair of the Community Benefits Committee. “We believe in healing the sick as well as keeping our central Massachusetts residents healthy. The Saint Vincent Hospital Community Benefits Program is an extension of this commitment to care. Giving back to the people of Worcester is just as important as being there for them.”

“At the core of the hospital’s Community Benefit Program is a mission which supports the health-related initiatives, programs or services serving the vulnerable populations of Greater Worcester,” explained Sheilah H. Dooley, Executive Director of Pernet Family Health and co-chair of the Community Benefit Program Committee. “While it was a very difficult decision, with many worthwhile causes to choose from, we feel we were able to select a broad spectrum of proposals that most nearly matched the Community Benefit Program mission.”

The eighteen organizations to benefit from the hospital’s 2007 grant funding are: AIDS Project Worcester, Inc.; American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts; The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc.; Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester; Children’s Friend; Genesis Club, Inc.; Great Brook Valley Health Center, Inc.; Jewish Family Center of Worcester; McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys; Multi-Service Center, Inc.; Pernet Family Health Service, Inc.; Rachel’s Table; St. John’s Free Clinic; Saint Paul’s Elder Outreach; Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts; The Friends of Shrewsbury Senior Center; Visitation House; and the YWCA of Central Massachusetts, Inc.

In addition to the grant funding from the hospital’s Community Benefit Program, Saint Vincent Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, John E. Smithhisler, recently presented a check for over $300,000 to City Manager Michael J. O’Brien to support youth programming in the city. This donation is part of an ongoing commitment by Saint Vincent Hospital to the youth of the city of Worcester.