December 12, 2011

Mercy Foundation Receives Generous Grant from The Collins Foundation to Further Local Child Abuse Prevention Efforts

The Collins Foundation has given a generous two-year grant totaling $50,000 to Mercy Foundation to support the implementation of a comprehensive child abuse prevention and intervention strategy in Douglas County.

"Like so many other social issues, violence prevention, especially preventing abuse against children, is key to creating a healthy community," stated Lisa Platt, Mercy Foundation president.

Mercy Foundation plans to use the funds to hire a full-time child abuse prevention specialist who will work closely with Douglas County's Child Abuse Prevention Coalition.

The Child Abuse Prevention Coalition serves primarily Douglas County, but also contributes to Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) system-wide efforts to prevent violence in every community CHI serves. This Douglas County coalition is made up of 50 individuals from 30+ organizations ranging from law enforcement, schools, faith-based organizations, medical, and not-for profit agencies.

The prevention specialist will work closely with the violence prevention coalition partners to help design, enhance and help sustain current and future violence prevention programs for the community.

The Collins Foundation, an independent private foundation, was created in 1947 by Truman W. Collins and other members of the family of E.S. Collins. The Collins Foundation exists to improve, enrich, and give greater expression to the religious, educational, cultural, and scientific endeavors in the state of Oregon and to assist in improving the quality of life in the state. In its procedures, the Foundation has not been an "Operating Foundation" in the sense of taking the initiative in creating and directing programs designed to carry out its purpose. Rather, the trustees have chosen to work through existing agencies and have supported proposals submitted by colleges and universities, organized religious groups, arts, cultural and civic organizations, and agencies devoted to health, welfare and youth.

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