The first grants under a United Healthcare initiative aimed at helping disabled Kansas job seekers are going to groups with a collective presence across the state.

The health insurer said Friday it will provide $1.5 million in “Empower Kansas” grants over the next three years to community groups. The first five recipients were announced at a news conference in Overland Park.

The Wichita-based Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation is getting the largest grant, at nearly $116,000.

More than $76,000 has been awarded to Assistive Technology for Kansans. The program is coordinated by the University of Kansas, with sites in Garden City, Parsons, Oakley, Salina, Topeka and Wichita.

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is receiving $44,000, and Cottonwood Inc., of Lawrence, almost $19,000. The Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization was awarded $9,000.