Hearst Foundations award $600,000 in Washington state

The Hearst Foundations have awarded $600,000 in grants to three nonprofit organizations in Washington.

Seattle Children's Hospital and Medical Center received $200,000 to establish the Hearst Endowed Fund to support research fellowships in the hospital's Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development. Virginia Mason Medical Center received $300,000 to establish the Hearst Endowed Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research. The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association received $100,000 to expand the national volunteer corps to assist abused and neglected children.

Grants awarded in Washington over the past 10 years total more than $6 million in the areas of education, health, social service and culture, including nearly $5 million for Seattle nonprofits.

The foundations are independent private philanthropies operating separately from the Hearst Corp., owner of the Seattle P-I.