SEATTLE, Wash. — The Regence Foundation announced today three grants for health care nonprofits in western Washington. The Foundation awarded $35,000 to King County Project Access in Seattle, $31,000 to the Franciscan Foundation in Tacoma and $25,000 to Olympic Community Action Programs in Port Angeles. All three grants support organizations working to remove the barriers medically underserved Washingtonians face in seeking quality, affordable medical care.

“At The Regence Foundation we believe that access to medical care is the foundation for healthy communities,” said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. “For many uninsured Washingtonians, however, that care isn’t readily available, and that’s why The Regence Foundation is committed to funding nonprofits that provide safety net services.”

The Franciscan Foundation was awarded $31,000 to expand the its Breast Cancer Navigator Program to reach Latinas. The program works to reduce the risk of breast cancer through cultural and language appropriate outreach. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Latinas, and Washington has the second highest rate of breast cancer diagnosis in the country.

King County Project Access (KCPA) received a $35,000 challenge grant (which it will match from other sources) to expand access to specialty care for the working poor in south King County. KCPA facilitates the county’s only specialty care safety net services, and its goal is to have every hospital in King County donate specialty care services such as neurology, cardiology, orthopedic surgery and ophthalmology.

Olympic Community Action Programs received $25,000 to support new, permanent dental clinics in Forks, Port Townsend and Brinnon, communities currently served by mobile dental vans. The permanent clinics will improve access to dental care for low and moderate income community members and help limit ER visits for dental care.