Dignity Health/YRMC Awards $211,000 to Local Nonprofits Serving Vulnerable Communities

Last updated on mayo 1st, 2026 at 01:36 pm

An atmosphere of gratitude and emotion filled the Outpatient Services Building Friday morning as Dignity Health and Yavapai Regional Medical Center officially presented their 2026 Community Health Improvement Grants during a special ceremony held at 9 a.m. in Prescott. Representatives from several nonprofit organizations were visibly moved, with some wiping away tears as they accepted funding that will strengthen programs serving families, children, seniors, and underserved residents throughout Yavapai County.

In total, YRMC awarded $211,000 to seven community partners addressing some of the region’s most pressing health challenges. “The mission of Dignity Health is to improve the health of the people we serve, especially those who are most vulnerable. Today, we celebrate our connection with the community,” said Mark Domingo, director of Mission and Community Engagement at YRMC. He added the hospital is both honored and excited to collaborate with local organizations through this year’s grant program, emphasizing that lasting community impact can only be achieved through strong partnerships. “Dignity Health cannot do this work alone,” he said. “By partnering with nonprofits and community agencies, we can better address the evolving needs of our community.”

Mark Domingo, explained that every three years the hospital conducts a comprehensive community health needs assessment using surveys, interviews, and public health data to identify priority areas across the region. The most recent assessment identified access to care and healthy lifestyles and behaviors as the two primary focus areas. Grant applications were reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee composed of physicians, nurses, board members, and community leaders to ensure each project aligned with those priorities as well as Dignity Health’s mission of serving vulnerable populations and advancing social justice. “These organizations are an extension of who we are in the community,” Domingo stated. “We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing this work together.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Torres, president of YRMC, emphasized that Dignity Health remains committed to reinvesting in the community year after year by supporting organizations that create meaningful and lasting change in the lives of vulnerable residents. He noted that the ceremony represented far more than a financial investment—it was a celebration of partnership, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving community health. Dr. Torres congratulated the nonprofit leaders in attendance and thanked them for their dedication and service.

Organizations receiving funding through the 2026 Community Health Improvement Grant program included:

• Wrapped in Love Diaper Bank — $33,000
• Polara Health — $30,000
• Coalition for Compassion and Justice — $30,000
• People Who Care — $20,000
• Northern Arizona University — $50,000
• Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank, Inc. $25,000
• Prescott Free Clinic — $23,000

As the ceremony concluded, the message of the morning remained clear: improving community health is not the work of one institution alone, but of an entire network of organizations united by compassion, service, and a commitment to building healthier futures for all.