The North Dakota Caring Foundation's Caring for Children program has been awarded a matching grant of up to $75,000 from Dakota Medical Foundation to help children who lack health care coverage. Dakota Medical Foundation will match individual contributions of at least $100 up to $10,000.

The North Dakota Caring Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides the state's uninsured children with medical, dental and mental health care services. Through the program, more than 1,300 children received the care they needed in 2006 at no cost to their families. These children are from working families who do not qualify for government-funded programs and cannot afford private insurance.

As part of the fundraising campaign, the Caring for Children program seeks interested individuals, churches and organizations to sponsor children. The cost to provide coverage for one child is $369.60 for year, $30.80 per month.

Dakota Medical Foundation, based in Fargo, focuses its efforts on improving access to medical and dental care. Since its inception in 1995, the foundation has invested nearly $28 million in more than 275 non-profit organizations to measurably improve health and access to health care.

The North Dakota Caring Foundation was established in 1989 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota as part of its effort to make affordable health care available to all North Dakotans.