On March 25, The California Endowment, the state’s largest health foundation, continued its support of Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) with a $756,000 grant to improve public health by reducing environmental health risks in San Diego’s Barrio Logan/Logan Heights community. The grant will be allotted to EHC over a three-year period.

"The high level of airborne toxins in these neighborhoods pose immediate and personal health hazards, and exacerbate existing health disparities," said Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO of The California Endowment. "It is critical to reduce these residents’ exposure to harmful toxins to reduce their risk of developing respiratory illnesses and other serious health conditions. The Endowment is committed to reducing the health disparities experienced by the underserved communities of the state."

Diane Takvorian, Executive Director of EHC, said the grant will be used to implement the EHC "Reclaiming Neighborhoods for Environmental Health" project, which seeks to eliminate health hazards like toxic air pollution from industrial and diesel truck emissions. "Common sense tells us that living next door to a chrome plating shop or major truck route is harmful to our health, but current land-use laws allow just that. This project will empower residents through education and community organizing to take back their communities by creating a community plan that reflects the kind of community they want to raise their families in," Takvorian said. "EHC would like to thank Dr. Ross and The California Endowment for their continued support of programs that empower communities and protect public health."

Rosa Maria Angeles, a community resident and EHC organizer who has been working to eliminate toxic pollution for over five years, said, "Learning about pollution and its impact on health has been an important part of our work to effectively organize and reduce the toxic hazards in our community. I’m looking forward to learning about land-use regulations and planning in order to help residents create their own community vision."

The California Endowment was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. For more information, visit their Web site at www.calendow.org.