The Kansas Health Foundation announced Tuesday that it gave Douglas County $35,328 in grants to improve the health and wellness of its residents.

The projects awarded were:

• St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, $24,939, for a program that aims to engage community partners to help reduce substance abuse, suicide and school dropout rates among the Hispanic population in Douglas County. The grant is primarily intended to pay for new personnel, travel, office equipment, meeting materials, and refreshments.

• Lawrence Children’s Choir, $10,389, to promote health and wellness among older adults and children living in Douglas County through singing. Choirs of different age groups sing together weekly during the school year and participate in two joint concerts. This grant is intended to pay for personnel, choir risers, choir books and associated printing.

The grants were presented as part of the foundation’s Spring 2010 Recognition Grants Program, which provided $709,000 to 43 projects. The grants ranged from $1,800 to $25,000.

For a full list of the state projects that received a grant, visit kansashealth.org.