Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 30, 2013 – The Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee, successor to Mercy Health Partners Foundation, today announced it has awarded over $700,000 in grants to five local nonprofits to improve the physical, emotional and spiritual health of East Tennessee. Through its grant process this year, the Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee has awarded nearly $1.0 million in grants to local nonprofits. “We could not be more proud to provide support to these five initiatives that we believe will make great strides in improving the quality of life and health of those in East Tennessee,” said Dr. Lee Martin, President of the Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee. “We also want to thank all those who have contributed their time and resources to Trinity through past efforts with the Mercy Health Partners Foundation. Together we can continue to make a significant impact on the health of the East Tennessee community.” Formerly known as the Mercy Health Partners Foundation serving the needs of Mercy Health Partners, Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee was established as an independent foundation in 2011 when the non-profit Mercy System was purchased by Tennova. Trinity’s predecessor, Mercy Health Partners Foundation, was formed in 2008 from the merger of two non-profit systems, St. Mary’s Health System and Baptist Health System of East Tennessee, whose foundations’ philanthropic activities benefited East Tennessee for more than twenty-five years. The 2013 Phase II health initiative grant recipients include: Breakthrough Corporation ($150,000) – Employment Opportunities for Jobseekers with Disabilities. Breakthrough Corporation will initiate Project SEARCH, a program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Knoxville area, which will provide them with life enriching new opportunities for employment in well-paying, skilled jobs. Two sites of the nationally acclaimed Project SEARCH program will be established at leading Knoxville employers. Project SEARCH provides people with autism, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities with nine-month internships that include coursework and training rotations through three jobs at an employer’s workplace. Upon completion, interns are hired by either the host employer or other collaborating employers. Compassion Coalition ($150,000) – The Future Story Project. Compassion Coalition will develop through Getting Ahead classes The Future Story Project which will serve Knox County residents who wish to escape from the economic environment of poverty and long to build a better future for themselves and their families. Each Getting Ahead class composed of 10 – 12 individuals, known as Investigators who currently live in poverty, will perform extensive self-analysis of the impact that living in poverty has on their lives. They will explore how their lives can change, situations can improve, and stability can be achieved for themselves and their families. Each Getting Ahead graduate will...
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