Renown Health Awards Grants to Area Organizations Addressing Diversity and Inclusiveness

Funds used to support those addressing demographic diversity and Social Determinants of Health to improve the health of our community.

Renown Health, in keeping with its mission, vision and values andtheorganization’slong-standingcommitmenttoaddressingthesocialdeterminantsofhealth,announced today it will make available up to $20,000 in fiscal year 2020 to fund projects andorganizationsaimingtoincreasethepresenceandparticipationofwomen,racialandethnicminorities, LBGTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people of low socioeconomic status, and otherunderrepresented groups. Renown Health strongly prefers proposals that convincingly demonstratetheir potentialtoimprovethehealth andwellness ofnorthernNevadans.

The organization wishes to express its interest in supporting programs that enhance collaboration,healthliteracyandcommunication,andenhancecultural competency.

“Improvingthehealthofourcommunityisthefoundationofourwork.Ourmission,visionandvaluesare the essence of what makes us Renown. We are committed to fostering an environment ofdiversity, inclusion and cultural competence where all are appreciated, fully engaged and motivatedto make a genuine, positive difference in the health and well-being of the people and communitiesweserve,”saidTonySlonim,MD,DrPH,Renown’s President&CEO.

As the Kaiser Family Foundation noted in recent research: “Researchers found that social factors,includingeducation,racialsegregation,socialsupports,andpovertyaccountedforoverathirdoftotaldeathsintheUnitedStatesinayear.”https://www.ajmc.com/contributor/sophia-bernazzani/2016/05/the-importance-of-considering-the-social-determinants-of-health#

Annie Zucker, manager of Community Impact at Renown adds, “Social Determinants of Health havea major impact on health outcomes—especially for the most vulnerable populations. I am proud thatRenown,asanot-for-profithealthcareorganization,considerssocialdeterminantsofhealthtoenablemorecompassionateandcomprehensivehealthcareforthe patients andfamiliesweserve.”

According to the CDC, it has been well-established that poverty inhibits access to healthy foods andsafe neighborhoods, and that higher levels of education influence better health. The impact of suchfactors on health is defined by Healthy People 2020 as social determinants of health: “Socialdeterminantsofhealthareconditionsintheenvironmentsinwhichpeopleareborn,live,learn,work,play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomesand risks.” When resources are available to overcome negative social determinants of health, theycanhave a significantimpactonimprovingpopulation healthoutcomes.

“Through diversity, inclusiveness and cultural competence we are able to better understand andrespond to the health needs of our communities. We are committed to continually cultivating anenvironment of cultural inclusiveness. When you have a culture that acknowledges and engageseveryone,theopportunitiesforpersonalgrowthandorganizationaleffectivenessarelimitless,”saidHectorBoirie,MBA,ChiefStrategyOfficer.

“RenownHealthprovidesaccesstocarewithdignityandrespectforall.Werecognizeandrespectevery human being, regardless of race, creed, gender, age, handicap, national origin or ability topay. We give competent, considerate and respectful care in a safe setting that fosters a person’scomfort and dignity and is free from all forms of abuse and harassment, including gender identityor gender expression,” says Melinda Mendoza, BSN, JD, CPC, CHC, CHPC, Chief ComplianceOfficer.“ThisisaRenownHealthpatientrightandweareproudofourorganizationalcommitment.”

Renown Health is also an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive considerationforemploymentwithoutregardtorace,color,religion,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentity,maritalstatus,nationalorigin,ancestry,age,geneticinformation,disability,orprotectedveteranstatus.“Iamso pleased to serve as Renown’s Chief Financial Officer. Less than 13% of the CFOs in the US arewomen. How proud I am to help lead an organization that focuses on attracting talent based onindividual competency and kindness, rather than gender, race, religion or sexual orientation,” saysAnn Beck.

Renown Health strongly prefers proposals totaling approximately $2,500 or less as they anticipatefunding8 organizations.

Renown Health has made this additional funding available for fiscal year 2020. It normally fundsprojects for only 6 months at a time, and Renown welcomes applications for renewal funding insubsequent years. All non-profit 501c3 organizations with offices serving residents ofnorthernNevada are invited tosubmitproposalsbyThursday,June 252020.

Renown Health will review proposals and make funding decisions by Monday, June 29, 2020.RenownHealthwill disbursegrantfunds byTuesday,June 30,2020.

As non-profit hospitals, Renown must meet community benefit requirements to qualify for tax-exempt status, this includes funding programs that respond to public health needs and improveoverallcommunityhealth.

To submit a ‘Renown supports Diversity & Inclusivity grant proposal,’ fill out the grantproposalsubmissionform.

Forquestions,contact AnnieZucker,managerofCommunityImpactat azucker@renown.org.

About Renown Health

Renown Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Renown Health is a locally governed and locally owned, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, Renown Children’s Hospital, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to continually improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.