Drugmaker Urges Submissions For $40K Grants To Healthcare Nonprofits

By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - Time is running out for Philadelphia area healthcare nonprofit organizations to apply for $40,000 "Impact Awards" from drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline.

Up to ten nonprofits providing access to healthcare can receive $40,000 each in grant money, but the applications need to be submitted by March 28th. The organizations must be located in the five-county Philadelphia region (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware counties) or in Berks, Northampton, Lehigh, or Lancaster counties, or the City of Camden.

GlaxoSmithKline's Mary Linda Andrews says these healthcare providers are critical, especially in tough economic times.

"More and more individuals are falling through the cracks as having either no insurance or being underinsured, and they often look to these nonprofits to provide health care," she tells KYW Newsradio.

GSK is looking for innovative healthcare organizations making a significant impact on their communities.

"We know that these individuals need to have the health services, especially if they are living in poverty. Some are homeless and they just don't know where to go for care," Andrews says.

The guidelines for the competition are on their web site at GSKImpact-US.com.