Vidant Health Foundation awarded its 2015-2016 community grants for the Beaufort County and Hyde County areas yesterday at Vidant Beaufort Hospital, grants that totaled more than $110,000.

Vidant Health awards funds as part of its Community Benefit Grants Program to eastern North Carolina organizations to encourage community health initiatives, such as health education and disease management services.

The Community Benefit Grants Program began in 1999, and this year marks the 10^th year of the health foundation awarding money to communities with regional Vidant hospitals.

The foundation will distribute 132 grants totaling more than $1.8 million throughout the eastern part of the state this year.

Among the recipients on Friday were Beaufort County Health Department, Beaufort County Boys & Girls Club, Ruth’s House, Blount’s Creek Fire Department and Higher Heights Human Services Inc.

During the meeting in which the awards were given, a member from each organization was given a few minutes to speak about the services offered by his or her organization as well as the services that would be funded by the grant money.

Carol Rose, coordinator of Beaufort County Health Department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, which received a $9,000 grant, said this is the second year the program has received money from Vidant, and she is grateful for the grant.

Rose said she thinks the money will help BCCCP reach out to more women who may be unable to afford screenings for breast and cervical cancers as well as diagnostic tests to identify abnormalities.

Mal Collins, area director of the Boys & Girls Club of Beaufort County, said the organization is thankful for the $14,000 grant it received, and the money will benefit both club sites in Washington and Belhaven.

“We are thankful to Vidant because they continue to support us year after year,” she said.