(Utica, NY- April 2015) Eleven local organizations will receive funding for community projects to improve the health of the Greater Utica area from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Dr. Jennifer Carbone Zuccaro, president of advisory board of the Greater Utica Area American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is proud to announce the recipients of the “Greater Utica Community Impact Grant Awards.”
The local chapter of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has received $50,000 to provide grant funding for community-based organizations in the Greater Utica area with the mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The 2015 grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District
- Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network
- Bernard’s Boxing Academy
- Parkway Center
- Notre Dame Elementary
- Utica Bike Rescue
- Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement
- YMCA of Greater Tri-Valley (New Hartford)
- Oneonta Youth Soccer Association
- The House of the Good Shepard
- Bassett Healthcare Network
Local organizations started applying for grants last December. Project proposals needed to focus on reducing cardiovascular disease and its risk factors by specifically targeting issues like childhood obesity or family health. A committee of local community volunteers reviewed and ranked the grant applications by the projects’ alignment with the mission of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
This year’s recipients received between $2,300 and $5,000, for a total community investment of $50,000.
Over the past four years, the local American Heart Association has been able to award $150,000 to 25 deserving organizations who are working to improve the health of the Greater Utica area.
“We were so happy to see the level of creative projects being developed to support the fight against heart disease and stroke,” says Dr. Jennifer Carbone Zuccaro. “There were many merit-worthy projects that would result in improvements in the cardiovascular health of our community. The decisions were not easy.”
As the American Heart Association focuses its attention on systems change, local staff presence to directly participate and support many of these important community initiatives is lacking. The funding will help to ensure that activities continue and new, creative projects are executed.