Saint John's in the Community

Caritas Benefits for Those Living in Poverty

Saint John's motto, "...and the greatest of these is charity...," reminds us that love and charity are the same. Caritas is the Latin word for both "love" and "charity." Caritas Benefits are the focus and priority for Saint John's community benefit program. These benefits are the goods, services and financial resources that Saint John's provides, manages or coordinates for those living in poverty in our community.

Our community is fortunate to have many outstanding organizations and agencies delivering vital services for those living in poverty. OPCC, St. Joseph Center, Venice Family Clinic, and Westside Family Health Center are just a few examples of these partners. Saint John's commitment to care for the poor and underserved is a commitment to their work.

Our care of those living in poverty is built on yet another partnership. The dedicated physicians who provide professional services in Saint John's Laboratory, Imaging Department, and Heart Institute are our essential partners in caring for patients referred to Saint John's for diagnostic and other services by community agencies. These physicians volunteer their time and professional skills, as Saint John's volunteers its staff, resources and facilities, to provide these services at no charge to those living in poverty.

Benefits for the Broader Community

Saint John's has been blessed by many extraordinary partners, such as Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and St. Anne's School. Saint John's funds SMMUSD's Infant-Family Support Program and supports SMMUSD's School Nurse Program in order to enhance the health status of our community's school age children. Saint John's partners with St. Anne's School by funding a school nurse and providing a school counseling program, thereby extending its community health mission into local parochial schools.

Saint John's is a major employer and a not-for-profit corporate citizen on the Westside. As such, we support community organizations such as the Venice Family Clinic, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, the Westside Family Health Center, OPCC, Saint Joseph's Center, the Saint John's Child and Family Development Center, the Lifelong Learning Community, WISE  & Healthy Aging, Step Up on Second, Upward Bound House, St. Anne's School, Pico Youth & Family Center, The City of Santa Monica, Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition, The Serra Project, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Monica Firefighters Association, and the American Red Cross.

Total Community Benefits