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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Addressing Water Issues in Rural California Communities

The Public Health Trust accepted proposals for projects focused on community organizing and advocacy affecting water quality in rural areas of California. The goal of this grant program is to enhance community involvement in protecting water sources and quality in rural areas of California.

Funding for this program is provided from settlements of Proposition 65 litigation concerning leaking underground storage tanks (Communities for a Better Environment v. Tosco, Inc, et. al.)

The period of submission has ended. Grants will be awarded early September and announced on this site.

GRANTS AWARDED

NEW AWARDS - Lead in Mexican-style Candies - Outreach and Education for Consumers, Retailers and Others

The Public Health Trust announces three grants of $75,000 each to the following organizations:

• Get the Lead Out Coalition, a coalition of Bay Area Lead Poisoning Prevention Leaders representing Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Solano and the City of Berkeley. The project will conduct outreach and education in the greater Bay Area to increase awareness of consumers, community -based organizations, elementary school teachers and administrators, and retailers about the seriousness of lead poisoning, ways to prevent lead exposures and particularly about lead in Mexican-style candies.

• Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries to provide outreach to consumers and retailers from refugee and immigrant communities living within Fresno County. This project will be implemented in partnership with Centro La Familia Advocacy, Inc.

• The City of Pasadena Public Health Department to educate local retailers, mobile vendors, Hispanic/Latino families, and the general public about the health hazards of lead poisoning and to reduce consumption of certain Mexican-style candies with known lead contamination.

Funds for these grants were provided through the settlement in People of the State of California v. Alpro Alimento Proteinico, S.A., et al.

Development of Education Materials for Retailers, Consumers and Others Regarding Lead in Certain Mexican-Style Candies

The Public Health Trust awarded a grant of $175,000 for a project to develop materials to be used for education and outreach to retailers, consumers and others about lead in Mexican-style candy. The grant was awarded to the California Poison Control System (CPCS) at the Department of Pharmacy, University of California – San Francisco. CPCS produced a line of education materials for consumers, retailers and others intended to engender action and lead to increased awareness and improved choices regarding Mexican-style candies.

Funding for this grant was provided through the settlement in People of the State of California et al. v. Alpro Alimento Proteinico, S.A. de C.V. et al.

Monitoring the Sale of Specific Candy and Soda Bottles in California Communities

The Public Health Trust awarded 3 grant of $75,000 each for the following projects to survey retail establishments for the availability and sale of specific candy and soda bottles:

• St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation/Families in Good Health in Long Beach for a project to survey and monitor retail establishments in Long Beach and Carson for the availability and sale of specific candy and soda bottles.

• The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice in Riverside to expand the SALTA Advanced Promotora Program activities to include surveying and monitoring retail stores in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for the sale of candy and soda which have tested high for lead.

• Fresno Interdenominational Refugee MinistriesHealthy Markets Project to survey and monitor small markets and supermarkets in Fresno and Fresno County for the sale of candy and soda that have tested high for lead. This project will be implemented in partnership with Centro La Familia Advocacy, Inc.

Funds for these grants were provided from the settlements in People of the State of California v. Alpro Alimento Proteinico, S.A., et al.; People of the State of California v. PepsiCo, Inc.; and People of the State of California v. Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

NEW REPORTS RELEASED

Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start

With a grant from the Public Health Trust, Environment California Research and Policy Center worked with an independent laboratory to determine whether common baby nursery furnishings emit formaldehyde and at what levels. Environment California issued a report showing that baby nursery cribs, changing tables, and dressers can emit formaldehyde at levels linked with increased risk of childhood allergies and asthma. A copy of the report and tips for parents, caregivers, and policymakers is available at www.environmentcalifornia.org

 

 

Mercury in Seafood: No Fair Warning - How failure to post adequate mercury-in-seafood advisories is threatening people’s health and violating Californians’ right-to-know

With a grant from the Public Health Trust, Turtle Island Restoration Network monitored compliance with a court order requiring the posting of mercury-in-seafood consumer advisories by seafood purveyors in California. TIRN issued a report revealing the results of a county-by-county restaurant survey of compliance with posting of warning signs. A copy of the complete report is available at www.gotmercury.org

 

 

NEW SETTLEMENTS RECEIVED

Mexican Soda Bottles with Decoration Containing Lead

The Public Health Trust will manage a $300,000 settlement that arose from a Proposition 65 lawsuit alleging the presence of toxic levels of lead and cadmium in materials used to decorate glass soda bottles (People of the State of California v. The Coca-Cola Company, et. al.). Funds from the settlement support the following activities: monitoring retailers for continued sale of certain glass bottles; assisting small companies in retaining auditors to inspect their food production and processing activities; and supporting projects dedicated to the reduction of lead in Mexican food products.

Unlawful Distribution of Smokeless Tobacco Products on Public Grounds

The Public Health Trust will manage a $150,000 cy pres settlement resolving a claim against U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company for distribution of smokeless tobacco products at Pomona Raceway in Los Angeles County (People of the State of California v. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company). The funds will support tobacco control education and outreach programs.

Underground Storage Tanks

The Public Health Trust was selected to design and administer a grants program with funds from settlements of Proposition 65 litigation concerning leaking underground storage tanks (Communities for a Better Environment v. Tosco, Inc, et. al.). The Public Health Trust will manage $250,000 in settlement funds for projects addressing water quality issues in California.

 

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