Barton Foundation and Barton Health’s Community Advisory Committee gave $25,000 to 10 South Lake Tahoe organizations to help fund health-related services and programs.

The recipients were honored at Barton’s third annual Philanthropy Day lunch Nov. 4 at Riva Grill.

The programs awarded addressed some of the area’s most pressing health needs such as nutrition, physical fitness, and mental health.

Michelle Feeney, Barton nurse, from left, Margaret McKean, LTUSD nurse, and Julie Regan, Barton board member. Photo/Provided

South Tahoe High School received $7,700 – the largest of the health grants. Margaret McKean, nurse for Lake Tahoe Unified School District, wrote the grant on behalf of South Tahoe High School’s Culinary Arts Program benefiting the “Healthy Choices – Eat Right” nutrition program.

The Healthy Choices – Eat Right program will involve the students in STHS culinary, drama, AVID and technology classes. They will be given the challenge to develop projects that will teach all ninth-graders and LTUSD elementary children – emphasizing healthy choices and how those choices impact energy, fitness, academics and long-term health. The program is set to be launched in spring 2012.

Other grant recipients are:

· El Dorado County Jail, “Healthy Education Addiction Recovery Through Self Responsibility” program – $3,200

· Drug Store Project, “Prevention of teen drug use program” – $3,000

· Family Resource Center, “Heart Health Series Workshops for Latinos” – $2,100

· Court Appointed Special Advocates, “Support of abused and neglected children” – $2,000

· Bijou Community School “Exercise Circuit Course” – $2,500

· National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Funding for medications provided to mentally ill patients” – $1,500

· Tahoe Youth & Family Services, “Nutrition programs along with the “Little Latina’s Program” – $1,000

· Sports Connection, “Funding for local youth to participate in athletic programs” – $1,000

· American Youth Soccer Organization (South Lake Tahoe AYSO 282), “Scholarship Fund” – $1,000.