The Clallam County Physicians Community Benefit Fund announces awards for both academic scholarships in medically related fields and medically related community grants to be awarded in 2017.

The benefit fund was formed in 1995 when Regence BlueShield joined with Clallam County Physicians Service, Inc., a company formed by local physicians to provide health care coverage to Clallam County citizens.

The 2016-2017 academic scholarship awards are: Michael Lee, $5,000; Adam Raemer, $5,000; Kelsey Shideler, $5,000; Richard Putman, $3,000; and Beth Volk, $1,000.

The 2017 grant awards are: Franklin Elementary, $1,976.55 (funds to be used to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator unit and training), and Olympic Peninsula YMCA, $18,194.94 (funds to be used to purchase recumbent cross trainers for the Exercise and Thrive program at the Sequim location.