Barton Foundation provides grants to area nonprofits

The Barton Foundation this month gave out $53,000 to local nonprofits to boost services and programs focused on mental health, substance abuse, and access to care.

These were the top three areas of need identified by the 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment completed by Barton Health.

The recipients include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, supporting social and emotional growth camps for at risk children.
• Live Violence Free, providing funds for child advocacy and youth therapy services.
• Lake Tahoe Unified School District ALLY Club, to educate those working with LGBTQ youth and other under-served populations.
• LTUSD Dental Hygiene Program, for K-8 grade dental care and high school dental education.
• National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) El Dorado County Chapter, supporting the Brain Health Leadership Club at South Tahoe High School.
• Police Activities League, support for at-risk youth.
• SOS Outreach, for healthy living workshops and leadership development programs serving at risk youth.
• South Lake Tahoe Cancer League, supporting community members fighting cancer with transportation to receive care.
• Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, for temporary shelter services and equipment.
• Tahoe Magic, for Young Tahoe Smiles program funding with dentist Mireya Ortega. Dental care for area youth that are uninsured.
• Tahoe Senior Plaza, to provide hygiene products, transportation, health and wellness programs for low-income seniors.
• Tahoe Transportation District, support for transportation programs focused on seniors, veterans and the disabled.
• Tahoe Turning Point, for the foster youth placed in residential group homes.
• Tahoe Youth & Family Services, for providing free youth mental health and substance abuse counseling services.