July 11, 2008

Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to announce the new 2008 grantees selected to receive Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships (LFP) matching grants of $200,000 to $500,000.

These projects represent some of the most innovative, collaborative, community-based efforts addressing the complex health problems of vulnerable populations.

For example, in Florida a public/private partnership focuses on the needs of low-income children who lose health, financial and legal benefits because informal living arrangements with family members have enabled them to avoid foster care.

In California a new program works with parents to increase their acceptance of their children when the youth identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

In  each case, a local grantmaker nominated a nonprofit organization with an ambitious plan to change the systems that perpetuate many community health problems. Now we begin the LFP cycle again as we read the new proposals for the 2009 awards.

With best wishes for a safe and successful summer,

Pauline M. Seitz, Director
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships
609-275-4128