For local women looking for hope, and working towards better health, there's Hope to Health.

Hope to Health, or H2H, is a women's philanthropy group that funds projects and programs specifically for women at El Camino Hospital. The group is based on a similar organization at a hospital in Florida.

H2H was founded in 2005, when about 20 women approached El Camino, taking out a charter under its Foundation.

"We decided that we wanted to put together a group of women who were interested in philanthropy but wanted a voice in where that money would go," said member Betsy Dawes, who has been involved with H2H since its inception.

Members of H2H pay $1,000 annually, and 100 percent of that money, Dawes said, goes to fund their projects -- all of which are related to women's health, and are located within the El Camino Hospital District. The members meet monthly, and every year draw up a project list that is approved by vote.

"It's just women who really want to have an impact at this level and who are already believers in the hospital and its mission," Dawes said. She added that "A lot of the women are involved in other aspects" of the hospital.

Now in its fourth year, H2H has contributed around $160,000 to women's health issues. Its membership is about 35 women strong, and growing.

Projects have included funding mammograms and gynecological services for the uninsured, giving care packages to women in the cancer center, providing money for El Camino's Elder Care consulting services, and helping start a mood disorders program for women suffering from post partum depression.

"We've really tried to have a lot of variety in the projects over the years that we've supported," Dawes said.

The group works closely with the El Camino Women's Hospital, which was started in 2008.

"The women's hospital and the concept of really tailoring ... services for women really came about over the last couple of years," said Michelle van Zuiden, executive director of the women's hospital.

"I think from being part of the group, not only do they learn about the programs out there, they can really help direct us" in delivering services, van Zuiden said.

There is a social component to H2H as well. The group holds events -- like a recent "girls' night out" at Pinkies Nail Salon in Los Altos -- which are meant to be fun as well as substantive.

Members pay to attend these events, and often help bring in prospective members as well. Donna Whitney, H2H president, said she hopes the group's membership will grow to 100 in the coming years.

"You do get to know the people that are in this group," she said. "When we get together for something fun, it always has an educational component to it."

Though $1,000 a year may be too steep for younger women, girls can join in for only $30 a year in a spin-off group called H2H4Teens.

The teens-only H2H group started last spring. Under the advisory of Dawes, it works on issues that affect teenage girls, like eating disorders.

The hope, Dawes said, is to encourage membership from a young age, so that girls will eventually come back and join H2H. She said the group may develop a mid-range membership for college-aged women and young professionals. In the end, she said, it's about coming together and making a larger impact.

"I could give $1,000 to a hospital and maybe buy a stethoscope," Dawes said. "But if you pool your money, it's really powerful."