Santa Ana Unified School District, the Orangewood Children`s Foundation and St. Joseph`s Hospital are among 45 local organizations that will share $17.5 million in tobacco-tax money doled out on Wednesday. The grant brings to more than $40 million the amount that has been distributed to children`s programs by the county`s Children and Families Commission since Proposition 10 was approved by voters in 1998. Wednesday`s action included disbursements from $25,000 to more than $1 million. "It`s wonderful,`` said Gene Howard, executive director of the Orangewood Children`s Foundation, which will receive $1 million. Howard said the money will allow four community-based, family-resource centers to hire 12 staff members to help link low-income people to health services. "It is starting to create the kind of network we have always needed in Orange County,`` he said. Countywide the money - generated from a 50-cent- per-pack tax on cigarettes - goes toward elping at-risk children by providing medical services, family counseling and injury prevention. Some 105 organizations vied for the money. Other major recipients include: Orange County Pediatric Health and Medical Services Initiative, $6 million. Orange County Injury Prevention Collaborative, $1.2 million. St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, $1.3 million. YMCA of Orange County, $533,211. Santa Ana Unified School District, $509,000. Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center, $746,507. Southern California Alcohol and Drug Program, $843,732. By JENIFER B. McKIM - The Orange County Register