Two foundations awarded $3.6 million in grants to 12 nonprofits to address end-of-life care issues, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities in Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, officials said.
This is a second round of grants awarded through a partnership between the David and Lura Lovell Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
The Lovell Foundation is a philanthropic family foundation that supports integrative health and wellness. The Community Foundation connects donors to the causes they support, serving as a link between philanthropy and community needs.
In 2017, more than $3 million was awarded to organizations, mostly in Pima County, from the foundations for end-of-life care projects.
This latest round of grants will go to programs addressing issues related to the awareness, understanding and availability of end-of-life care and planning. Projects will focus on changing the narrative of how we plan for and experience death and dying, officials said.
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Organizations awarded funding for the next three years are:
Wild animals and outdoor enthusiasts could one day hike freely between Saguaro National Park and Pima County’s Sweetwater Preserve, thanks to a land acquisition announced this week. More info: (Video taken by Henry Brean / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on the land that was just added to Saguaro National Park’s ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Mountain District)
- Banner Health Foundation
- Catholic Community Services of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
- Dunbar Coalition
- El Rio Health
- Interfaith Community Services
- Pima Council on Aging
- Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Senior Pride
- Southwest Folklife Alliance
- Step Up to Justice
- Tu Nidito Children and Family Services
- ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Medical Center Foundation
- United Way of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
John Amoroso, executive director of the Lovell Foundation, said the partnership with the Community Foundation for Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is “helping to create a culture shift in the way we talk about, prepare for and care for ourselves and our loved ones at the end of life in Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and beyond.â€
After the Lovell Foundation co-funded an award-winning film, “Passing On,†about a community that achieved a 95% advance directive completion rate, the foundation began working collaboratively with the Community Foundation to fund a larger initiative aimed at changing the conversation around dying in Pima County.
“A global pandemic and the exposure of racial inequities in health care, especially end-of-life care, has only heightened the need for this work,†said Amoroso in a news release.
The Community Foundation for Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ began supporting end-of-life care in 2010 when the estate of philanthropist Shaaron Kent, who died in 2001, established an endowment fund with the organization.
The fund was meant to support Kent’s work in hospice care issues and the universal experiences of death, dying and grieving.
“The increase in awareness of end-of-life care and in the services available to underserved members of our community compared to three years ago is a testament to the power of nonprofit and funding organizations working together to address complex issues,†said Kelly Huber, director of community investments at the Community Foundation for Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Photos: Black Lives Matter march in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ July 4
BLM March
A protester holds up a poster with a stencil of George Floyd as a group makes their way up 4th Avenue during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Cassandra Muse and Jeannette Carrillo stand together as people gather for a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
A group of protesters are seen reflected in store front windows on 4th Avenue during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
A protester raises a sign during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Cassandra Muse shades herself under an umbrella before a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters carry umbrellas up 6th Avenue during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters stop near Congress Street and Church Avenue during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
A protester holds up a fist as the group makes its way west on Congress Street during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
A group of protesters make their way west on Congress Street during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Ingrid Scott and Madeline Scott prepare posters before a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their down 4th Avenue during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters walk through the north end of Armory Park during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters walk through the north end of Armory Park during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protestors stop on Granada Avenue near the U.S. District Court Building during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
A protester holds up a poster with a stencil of George Floyd as a group makes their way up 4th Avenue during a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Chris Rodriguez waits on a bench in Catalina Park for a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Cassandra Muse and Jeannette Carrillo stand together as people gather for a Black Lives Matter march in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
BLM March
Protesters make their way through downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ during a Black Lives Matter march, on July 4, 2020.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104. On Twitter: @cduartestar
Carmen Duarte
Reporter
