Here’s how these groups are using their share of foundation’s $65,475 in grant money

As chief research information officer for Children’s Mercy Hospital and the Children’s Research Institute, Mark Hoffman stays busy. The Lee’s Summit physician, an inventor on 19 issued patents, is also a member of the American Academy of Inventors.

But Hoffman still finds time to give back to the community, serving as the board president of the Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation.

Established in 2003, the foundation’s efforts are laser-focused on promoting the health and well-being of the greater Lee’s Summit area. It concentrates in two main areas: providing grants to local organizations making a positive impact on the community and providing scholarships to residents pursing academic studies in healthcare. Under the direction of its board, the foundation has donated more than $1.4 million to help through these efforts.

Hoffman first connected with the foundation through a friend and former colleague.

“She described the good work that they do, and I thought it sounded like a good opportunity to do some community service,” Hoffman said.

He started off as a member of the grants committee. Impressed by the applications and the work organization do in the community, Hoffman decided to jump in. Now he leads the 15-member board that meets quarterly.

With the continued growth of Lee’s Summit, now nearing 100,00 people, healthcare-related facilities are growing in the community. The Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation plays an important role, funding organizations that help in the health and welfare of the Lee’s Summit community.

In 2020, 11 nonprofit organizations received grants in amounts ranging from $3,000-$10,000. In all, the Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation gave out $65,475 to this year’s organizations. The funds will provide everything from food and supplies to equipment and training programs.

“We try to strike the balance and not dilute the impact we can have on those organization,” Hoffman said. “We focus on community impact; the readiness of the organization to do the work we propose.”

COVID-19 did not stop the foundation from awarding its scholarships to 13 Lee’s Summit students totaling $65,000, but did change the celebration that was recently held online. Each student received $5,000 to assist with their healthcare education.

“Supporting the education of future healthcare professionals is important and we hope some might come back after their education,” Hoffman said. “It’s an important statement of support for rising professionals who have come through the Lee’s Summit School system.”

This year has certainly brought its own challenges with the pandemic. Hoffman doesn’t seem fazed by this unexpected hurdle facing the community.

“I feel energized to make a difference during COVID,” Hoffman said. “I am a very service-oriented person and I see it as a way to give back to the community. We want to be a source of trusted information in the community and we want to listen to the community to hear their ideas about what we can be doing.”

This year’s recipients

The Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation 2020 Grant Awards provided $65,475 to 11 organizations to support a wide range of needs. The following were this year’s recipient organizations:

Developing Potential $7,500: This is for equipment for participants with special needs and physical challenges. The Flex Massagers and Massage Chairs help those with muscle and movement restrictions. More than 160 special needs citizens will be served.

John Knox Village $8,700: This is for equipment for use in the 60-bed rehab center. The CrossFit Trainer is a recumbent trainer that focuses on fitness goals that can help reduce falls. More than 175 seniors will be served.

ReDiscover $10,000: This provides specialty care for those who do not have access to monitor diabetes and high blood pressure. The program will serve 1,500 people annually and provide 200 glucometer kits, 100 blood pressure cuffs, 80 boxes of testing strips and more.

Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation $9,000: This will impact the health for newborns by providing education for new parents and related equipment that can help prevent SIDS. The program will purchase 21 HALO bassinets and provide 2000 babies with HALO sleep sacks.

CASA of Jackson County $3,000: This will provide emergency healthcare assistance to meet the needs of kids who are displaced and in foster care. More than 250 requests are anticipated annually to serve abused and neglected children within the program.

Coldwater of Lee’s Summit $3,000: This will provide food support for the Friends Day Saturday lunches that occur twice a month and serve 80 to 200 children and seniors.

Hillcrest $3,000: This will provide funding to support transportation to health-related appointments and prescription medication for the 192 adults and children served annually.

Pro Deo Youth Center $5,000: This will serve teens that are struggling to connect or need help to maintain their mental well-being. The program offers a safe place for more than 70 teens with programming on multiple days each week across the year.

Lee’s Summit Cares $6,675: This will support the Suicide Prevention and Zero Reasons Why campaign that serves a Lee’s Summit audience of more than 7,000 students.

The Summit Church $4,000: This will provide general food support for kids across the summer who need midday meals. The program served 12,477 lunches in 2019.

Meals on Wheels $5,600: This will provide ongoing general food support for the elderly. More than 265 healthy meals are delivered weekly to homebound individuals across the greater Lee’s Summit community.