The California Wellness Foundation has awarded $10 million in grants to communities throughout California to support wellness efforts.

The foundation is providing $1 million each to ten neighborhood projects, which will use the money to create "wellness village" programs that will include youth mentorship efforts, academic support services and community health projects, the foundation says. The effort is part of the foundation's Children & Youth Community Health Initiative.

The interests of young people will help guide the activities of the centers, the foundation says.

"Rather than designing program to address the problems of youth, we believe young people should be viewed as assets who can play a major role in changing their physical, cultural, social and psychological environments in order to enhance community health," says Gary Yates, the president and chief executive officer of the foundation.

As part of the mentoring program, adult residents will be paired with middle school students. Pairs will work on a variety of projects, such as building playgrounds or gardening. The academic support program involves partnerships between the neighborhood programs and local institutions of higher education.

The California Wellness Foundation was formed in 1992 and has awarded $251 million in grants.