Gift for nonprofit, which has served Orange County since 1965, will benefit low-income patients of all ages with hearing screenings, diagnostic testing and hearing aids.
ORANGE, Calif. - July 28, 2009 - Providence Speech and Hearing Center, one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in Orange County, has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the St. Joseph Health System Foundation to support the "Hear for All" Program, which benefits low-income patients of all ages by providing hearing screenings, diagnostic testing and hearing aids.
Providence Speech and Hearing Center Chief Executive Officer Linda H. Smith, RN, BSN, PHN, announced the gift today.
St. Joseph Health System Foundation is proud to endorse Providence Speech and Hearing Center, according to St. Joseph Health System Foundation Executive Director Gabriela Robles .
"As part of our mission and values, we have focused on responding to the unmet community health needs," Robles said. "It is an honor to support Providence Speech and Hearing Center's 'Hear for All' Program because of their outstanding work in bridging disparity gaps in economically disadvantaged communities that lack access to quality care. This unique program provides necessary service to the community, which perfectly aligns with our commitment to help build the healthiest communities."
Providence Speech and Hearing Center is a longtime community partner with neighbor St. Joseph Hospital , where Providence founder Dr. Margaret Anne Inman started as a speech pathologist.
The $60,000 grant is the first time St. Joseph Health System Foundation has funded a program at Providence Speech and Hearing Center.
"We are thrilled with the support from St. Joseph Health System Foundation," Smith said. "We intend to keep improving on ways in which we can enrich life through the gifts of speech and hearing."
Earlier this month, Providence Speech and Hearing Center began a year-long, comprehensive, speech and language initiative supported by the Children & Families Commission of Orange County in an effort to improve speech and language services for children between 0-5 in Orange County.
"We are excited about the opportunity to be the lead agency for the Children & Families Commission in an effort to address speech and language development needs for young children in Orange County," Smith said.
The Children & Families Commission of Orange County has earmarked $250,000 for an initial planning and expansion effort after establishing speech and language delay as one of the priorities to be addressed in 2009-10.
For more information, contact Providence Business and Marketing Director Christina Webb at (714) 923-1539.
