ClearWay Minnesota(SM) Board Approves Four Regio...( New grants will serve communities in ...),Health

New grants will serve communities in outstate Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Today ClearWay Minnesota's Board of Directors approved four regional grants dedicated to reducing tobacco's harm through coalition building, public education and policy advocacy. The grants will provide resources to communities outside the Twin Cities metro area.

"These new grant awards show our continuing commitment to reducing tobacco's harm and educate all Minnesotans about the dangers of tobacco," said M. Patricia Hoven, ClearWay Minnesota Board Chair. "This investment in our state will pay off with healthier communities and continued protection from secondhand smoke."

Four regional grants totaling $580,000 were awarded to the American Lung Association in Minnesota, serving northeastern Minnesota ($145,000); CentraCare Health Foundation, serving St. Cloud and its surrounding communities ($145,000); Goodhue County Public Health Service, serving a four-county area in southern Minnesota ($150,000); and Nobles-Rock Community Health Services, serving two communities in southwestern Minnesota ($140,000). Each grantee will establish local coalitions, educate the public about the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke, promote QUITPLAN(R) Services and advance policies that reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

In addition, the ClearWay Minnesota Board also approved National Jewish Health, a nonprofit hospital based in Denver, as the new vendor for QUITPLAN Services phone counseling. National Jewish Health currently provides quitline services to six states, including Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Ohio, Montana and New Mexico.

About ClearWay Minnesota(SM)

ClearWay Minnesota is an independent, non-profit organization that improves the health of Minnesotans by reducing the harm caused by tobacco. ClearWay Minnesota serves Minnesota
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