Christine Sculati's blog » Health

Funding for innovative and healthy food businesses in California’s food deserts

christine — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:25:33 +0000

Tell me your zip code and I will tell you your life expectancy.

Those are the words of Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment, who talks about the dire statistics related to healthy food access in a video for the newly launched California Fresh Works Fund.

In the United States, one in every three children under the age of five are overweight or obese.
23.5 million Americans who live in low income neighborhoods lack access to a supermarket within a mile of their home including 1.7 million Californians.
In California, adults in neighborhoods with low access to healthy food options are 20% more likely to be obese than those with high access to healthy foods.
Each year in California, obesity causes thousands of deaths and costs families, employers, the healthcare industry and government more than $6 billion.

On July 20, 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the launch of the new fund, a public-private partnership that will loan $200 million to increase access to healthy food in underserved communities in California using a tested and scalable solution. In addition to an interest in promoting good health, the fund’s investors want to stimulate economic development, job creation and promote innovation. The partnership includes grocery industry groups, healthcare organizations and leading banks. With at least $20, you too can become an investor through the Calvert Foundation, a project partner.

“Food deserts” exist in neighborhoods that severely lack access to affordable, nutritious foods. Corner stores filled with junk food like chips, soda and cupcakes and other unhealthy products might be the most accessible stores in some neighborhoods.

Berkeleyside recently ran a story about corner stores that stirred quite a debate. I wonder if it would be possible to turn some of these establishments into “healthy corners stores.” Seems like it could be a win-win for shop owners and customers. The Healthy Corner Stores Network, a project of The Food Trust, offers many resources.

On the other side of the spectrum, you can find high quality and organic food in the burgeoning healthy grocery store chains like Whole Foods Market, but are these stores affordable? DJDave raps about paying “80 bucks for 6 things” in the viral video Whole Foods Parking Lot. (You can listen to an equally amusing Bay Area remix here. To find out what is behind the video and the song’s lyrics, read Sarah Henry’s piece on KQED’s Bay Area Bites blog.)

More reading:

Fresh Works Fund Revitalizing Food Deserts Across California on Philanthropy Front and Center, the San Francisco Foundation Center’s blog
Food Environments Near Home and School Related to Consumption of Soda and Fast Food – New policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
James Berk of Mandela Foods Brings Produce to His People by East Bay journalist Sarah Henry on her Lettuce Eat Kale blog

Bay Area Food Justice Organizations:

Oakland: Phat Beets Produce, City Slicker Farms, Mandela Marketplace, People’s Grocery and Planting Justice
East Palo Alto: Collective Roots
Berkeley: Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice Program and Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project
San Francisco: Literacy for Environmental Justice – Food Justice Program
Richmond: Urban Tilth
San Jose: Veggielution

Outward Bound Bay Area on KQED’s Forum to talk about Adventure Education

christine — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:13:21 +0000

YOU probably know somebody who experienced the challenges of an Outward Bound course and called it “life changing.”

What some people do not realize is that this nonprofit widely known for its challenging leadership programs in wilderness environments also has a growing number of “Centers” in metropolitan areas – including right here in the Bay Area.

From the local Center’s base in the Presidio of San Francisco, instructors fan out to schools in the San Francisco Unified School District, where Outward Bound has become a for-credit experiential learning course during the school day. Instructors also lead students from San Francisco and Oakland on one-day character-building adventures throughout the city and multi-night expeditions to parks near the Bay Area – from Big Basin to Henry Coe State Park. For many teens in urban areas, particularly in park-poor neighborhoods, this is a big leap – and the first time they will spend the night in the outdoors.

Some of the most motivated students go on to challenge themselves with 14-day trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains and 21-30 day wilderness experiences made possible through scholarships from Outward Bound’s Pinnacle Program for low income youth.

KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny

On Monday, June 20, Outward Bound Bay Area’s executive director, Josh Brankman, will be a guest on Michael Krasny’s Forum on KQED. Tune in on the radio or online at 10 a.m. or listen to the recording after the show.

Two other guests for Monday’s show on “Adventure Education” will be Ernesto Pepito, senior youth leadership specialist for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro and program officer at the Stewardship Council.

To connect with Outward Bound Bay Area, you can check out their website and become a fan on Facebook.

Disclosure: I am a grants consultant for Outward Bound, and I am writing this because I am a big fan (not on assignment).

3 California foundations offer guidance to grant seekers

christine — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:32:38 +0000

THE WORDS, “if you know one foundation, you know one foundation,” rang true for three panelists who spoke at the Foundation Center in San Francisco last week during Funding for Health and Human Services Month. Local foundation representatives advised grant seekers on what they like and what they don’t like when it comes to grant funding requests. And guess what?

If you know one foundation, you know one foundation

The Panelists:

Mary L. Gregory, Executive Director, Bella Vista Foundation
Fatima Angeles, Director of Evaluation and Organizational Learning, The California Wellness Foundation
Carrie Varoquiers, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and President, McKesson Foundation

**Guidance from Three Unique California Foundations**
Key insights	Bella Vista Foundation	The California Wellness Foundation	McKesson Foundation
Type of Foundation	Family	Healthcare conversion	Corporate
Geographic focus	Varies by focus area	Statewide	Nationwide with HQ in San Francisco
What are your funding priorities?	Early Childhood Ecosystem Restoration	8 Health Areas and a Special Projects fund	Community Health Centers (by invitation only through National Association of CHCs) Mobile health research
How can a grantseeker cultivate a relationship?	Review the website carefully; call with questions regarding a possible "fit."	Go to the website: "Everything is there." Mail in a 1-2 page letter of inquiry (10% chance of receiving invitation to write full proposal).	Go to the website for next chance to submit a letter of intent for mobile health research projects.
What are you looking for in a proposal?	Show evidence of your expertise.	Describe your organization’s target population, not the merits of your executive director. What does your organization do and why are you the one to do it? What is your voice in the policy arena?	Promising research to find out what works in mobile health. Evidence does not exist today.
What are red flags?	Don’t "parrot back" our words from the guidelines.	Will disqualify your letter of inquiry if it exceeds 2 pages.	Letters addressed to the wrong name
Tips for funded programs	Write thoughtful progress reports.	Write thoughtful progress reports.	Write thoughtful progress reports.

12 tips for nonprofits seeking grant money

christine — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:06:57 +0000

Are you wondering how to connect with grant makers in today’s increasingly competitive environment?

The key is to understand what motivates funders to connect with your cause and how your project’s fit in to their funding priorities and initiatives. The Foundation Center, a nonprofit resource for grant seekers, offers a valuable way for nonprofits to gain these critical insights. They offer classes and access to databases through their San Francisco library as well as cooperating collections, like the Berkeley Public Library.

The main library in downtown Berkeley was the venue for a recent Foundation Center event. As part of Health and Human Services month, the Foundation Center invited representatives from three East Bay funding organizations to speak to nonprofit grant seekers. They described their funding guidelines, how to introduce your organization’s work to them and tips on submitting your proposal, if there is a fit.

The Panelists:
The panelists came from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives: one from a government agency, one from a corporate giving program and one from a nonprofit health organization.

Mark Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of First 5 Alameda County
Susan Houghton, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for the Northern California Division of Safeway, Inc. and Safeway Foundation
Angela Jenkins, Community Benefit Manager for Kaiser Permanente’s East Bay Community Benefit Program

12 tips for nonprofits seeking grant money
I created a list of tips shared by the panelists.

When you apply for a grant, a real person is reviewing your application. If you address it “Dear Recipient,” it will go into the trash.
Funders might have more than one giving mechanism (foundation grants, employee giving program, corporate charitable giving, event sponsorships, etc.). Figure out the best point of entry for your project or program.
When contacting a funder, be sure to find out what method they prefer. For example, a funder might prefer initial contact by phone, email, letter or online inquiry.
Before you contact a funder, do your homework. All of the panelists pointed to their websites for guidance on grantmaking and giving priorities.
After you receive a grant, be sure to stay connected with your funders. After your last grant or contribution, did you send an update? Send a photo? Invite the funder to an event? Involve employees (in the case of a corporate giving program) to be involved in your work?
Does the funder require that your program follow evidenced-based approaches (i.e., informed by scientific research) or have measurable results? Or are they more interested in you trying something innovative and new to solve a problem?
Does your program’s objectives or goals align with the strategic plans of the funder?
Have you asked your current funders for introductions to other potential contributors? Will they consider co-hosting a funder briefing?
Is your GuideStar.org listing up-to-date?
Choose your board members wisely.
Don’t be shy about developing relationships with local government officials and their staff. Advocate for how your services are important to the community they were elected to serve.
Are you marketing your programs to build visibility for your issue and organization?

Happy Earth Day, more Earth preserved in the East Bay

christine — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:51:46 +0000

Just in time for Earth Day, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors recently authorized two purchases that will expand Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Eastern Contra Costa County to more than 7,000 acres.

The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, a partner to the Parks District, considers the new land a high priority for protection due to its significant habitat for protected species, including the the Alameda whipsnake.

Ultimately a network of trails will connect Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to Mt. Diablo State Park.

The East Bay Regional Park District is also a partner in the “Healthy Parks Healthy People” initiative, a growing international movement that recently launched in the United States with a conference in the Golden Gate National Parks.

With roots in Australia, the Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative is gaining momentum globally. A growing body of research shows the benefits of promoting active lifestyles in the outdoors and opportunities to connect with nature – for both individual and community health. Healthy Parks Healthy People Central serves as an online portal to the latest international research, innovations and programs that focus on the health benefits of human contact with the natural world.

The East Bay Regional Parks District will celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People with a kickoff event on June 11, 2011 at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont.

Meet health grantmakers at the Foundation Center in April

christine — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:50:06 +0000

In my last post I wrote about “Park Prescriptions” and “Healthy Parks Healthy People,” campaigns organized by the Institutes at the Golden Gate and the National Park Service to strengthen the connections between the healthcare system and public lands.

If your organization or agency is behind the movement, then you might want to know that April is Health and Human Services Month at the Foundation Center, a nonprofit resource center on philanthropy.

This month they are hosting three “Meet the Grantmaker” panels – two in downtown San Francisco and one in Berkeley. Funders will discuss their organizations’ guidelines, how to introduce your organization’s work to them, tips on submitting your proposal and trends in health and human services grantmaking.

Several other programs will present resources, tips and tools for strengthening your chances of succeeding with grants. To register, visit the Foundation Center’s website. All events are free, but they typically fill up early.

Meet the Grantmakers: Funding for East Bay Health & Human Service Organizations

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in Berkeley.

Panelists:

Safeway Inc. Corporate Giving Program
Kaiser Permanente-East Bay
First 5 Alameda County
Y & H Soda Foundation

Meet the Grantmakers for the Bay Area: A Program for Health & Human Service Organizations

Thursday, April 28, 2011 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in San Francisco

Panelists:

Fatima Angeles, Director of Evaluation and Organizational Learning, The California Wellness Foundation
Mary L. Gregory, Executive Director, Bella Vista Foundation
Christine Tran, Program Officer, Blue Shield of California Foundation
Carrie Varoquiers, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and President, McKesson Foundation

More April Events

Securing Corporate Support for Health & Human Services
Thursday, April 21, 10:00 am-12:00 pm in San Francisco
Explore best practices in gaining corporate support and meet local corporate funders.

10 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid for Health and Human Service Organizations
Monday, April 25, 2:00-3:30 pm in San Francisco
Learn best practices in marketing for health and human service organizations.

Think Sustainable: Earning Income for Your Health and Human Service Nonprofit
Tuesday, April 26, 10:00-11:30 am in San Francisco
Discover how to develop an earned income strategy.

What’s Our Value? Using Evaluation to Make the Case for Health and Human Services in Tight Times
Wednesday, April 27, 1:00-2:30 pm in San Francisco
Gain knowledge of the latest thinking in program evaluation and receive tools that will help you initiate internal evaluation efforts.

Visit the Foundation Center’s website to see a full list of opportunities.

Park Prescriptions movement grows to link park agencies and health field

christine — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:33:05 +0000

On KQED’ Forum this morning, the National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said he is hoping for a federal budget resolution by Friday to avoid a government shutdown.

After all, a shutdown would mean closing 400 national park sites across the country – from Point Reyes National Seashore to the Statue of Liberty. He said the last government shutdown closed national parks for 17 days during the winter holidays between 1995 and 1996. Visitors were turned away.

Jarvis told Michael Krasny that a national park closure at this time would be nightmarish given all the planning the park service has been doing to prepare for National Park Week (April 16-24), Earth Day events and a big push to promote “Healthy Parks Healthy People.”

Healthy Parks Healthy People is a new nationwide initiative pioneered in the San Francisco Bay Area by the Institute at the Golden Gate, a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Park leaders aim to strengthen connections between parks, public lands and human health and promote “Park Prescriptions.” Yesterday the National Park Service wrapped up the initiative’s first conference at Fort Baker in the Golden Gate National Parks. The event gathered professionals from the public and private arenas – from parks and open space to healthcare.

Take a hike and call me in the morning.

Public-private health initiatives are not entirely new to the Bay Area.

The Institute at the Golden Gate has been working on the parks and health issue for several years and has produced two publications:

The East Bay Regional Parks District has been partnering with Kaiser Permanente for the last seven years to organize the “Trails Challenge” to promote a healthful and physically active lifestyle in the outdoors. The district boasts 65 parks, over 98,000 acres and 1,100 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. With more land acquisitions they hope to protect more land.

The scientific community has documented the health benefits of time spent in nature and exercising in the outdoors for several years. And with the establishment of Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to reduce obesity, momentum is building to increase physical activity. Today, U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 40 percent of the U.S. population is sedentary.

Health and our parks is also the theme of the Bay Area Open Space Council’s 2011 Open Space Conference on May 12 in San Francisco’s Presidio. I’m going. Are you?