Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. Awarded $30,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant to Support the Chiricahua Cares Fund
(DOUGLAS, Ariz. – Sept. 1, 2026) – Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. has been awarded a 2026 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant from Mercy Care in the amount of $30,000 to support the Chiricahua Cares Fund. The fund assists patients across Cochise County who are experiencing unmet health-related social needs, including housing, utilities, food, and clothing. Grant funding will help address housing instability and utility costs, such as electricity, gas, and water, and is expected to provide emergency housing or utility assistance to at least 55 households.
“At Chiricahua, the mission of ‘Health for All’ is not just spoken but lived every day. I am inspired by our collective commitment to ensuring that high-quality, compassionate healthcare is accessible wherever people live, learn, or work. At Chiricahua, we don’t just talk about whole person care; we deliver it. We are grateful to Mercy C.A.R.E.S. for generously supporting and recognizing this important effort,” said Jonathan Melk, MD FAAP chief executive officer at Chiricahua.
Mercy C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Community Action Resources Education and Service, is Mercy Care’s community giving initiative. Through Mercy C.A.R.E.S., Mercy Care partners with organizations that address health disparities and align with our community health focus areas: building basic needs, increasing health access, managing chronic conditions, and supporting mental health and well-being.
Since 2016, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. has invested nearly $45 million in community reinvestment projects that build basic needs, increase health access, manage chronic conditions, and support mental health and well-being. This year, 46 partners, from local nonprofits to statewide coalitions, amplify Mercy Care’s reach and deepen the organization’s impact across Arizona.
“Access to safe housing and reliable utilities plays an important role in overall health and well-being,” said Trisha Stuart, director of community relations at Mercy Care. “Through Mercy C.A.R.E.S., we are proud to partner with organizations like Chiricahua Community Health Centers that are addressing barriers to health and connecting people with the support they need. We look forward to the positive impact this funding will have for families across Cochise County.”
Together, Mercy Care and organizations like Chiricahua Community Health Centers are helping underserved populations access the care, support and resources they need to live healthier lives and achieve their full potential.
About Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.
Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (Chiricahua) is a mission driven Federally Qualified Health Center and a tax-exempt, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 1996, as a small, rural health clinic operating in a community center, Chiricahua has grown to become the largest primary care organization in southeastern Arizona, serving more than 33,000 patients annually. Chiricahua operates 12 fixed-site medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and pharmacies, as well as four mobile medical and dental clinics that serve patients throughout the more than 6,200 square mile borderlands of Cochise County.
About Mercy Care
Mercy Care is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Arizonans. Since 1985, Mercy Care has provided access to quality physical and behavioral health care services for Medicaid-eligible families, children, seniors, and individuals with developmental and cognitive disabilities through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Mercy Care is a not-for-profit Medicaid managed care health plan sponsored by Dignity Health and Ascension Health. Learn more at MercyCareAZ.org.
