Saint Joseph London Awards Grants to Local Organizations

LONDON, Ky. (Feb. 19, 2024) – Saint Joseph London has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC) Community Action Partnership at Knox County Public Schools. The funding will be used for the 2024 calendar year.

“Investing in the well-being of our local youth is critical to fostering a healthier future for residents in the Tri-County area,” said John Yanes, president, Saint Joseph London. “We are proud to support Knox County Public Schools and the KCEOC Community Action Partnership with their efforts to provide educational resources to address mental health and support students’ basic health needs.”

The grant will be used to address an increase in mental health concerns at Knox County Public Schools. The KCEOC will host two mental health educational programs at each school in the Knox County district. In addition, the KCEOC will help cover expenses for dental and vision care and mental health therapy for low-income students.

“Knox County Public Schools is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Saint Joseph London and KCEOC,” said Jeremy Ledford, superintendent, Knox County Public Schools. “This grant will provide resources to address the mental and physical health needs for our students in Knox County.  We also look forward to working with KCEOC Community Action Partnership to administer the grant."

Across Kentucky, CHI Saint Joseph Health awarded more than $355,000 through the grant program, which was open to nonprofit organizations that address the following priorities – substance use disorders, mental health and mental disorders, and weight status, physical activity and nutrition – through projects planned for the next calendar year. The priorities were identified in Saint Joseph London’s most recent community health needs assessment, which is conducted every three years to help the hospitals and community partners identify and address priority health and social needs faced by residents and the region. 

This opportunity was part of the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program. CHI Saint Joseph Health and Saint Joseph London are part of CommonSpirit Health, created in 2019 when Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health came together to create a national health system.  

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph London

Saint Joseph London is a 150-bed full-service hospital located in London, Kentucky. Established in 1926, the facility serves patients from southeastern Kentucky, including those from Clay, Laurel, Jackson, Whitley, Knox and Pulaski counties. The current $152 million regional hospital opened in 2010, and offers all private patient rooms, with most overlooking a small lake and garden on the 52-acre healing environment. 

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