Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program to honor extraordinary nonprofit organizations across its footprint
June 1, 2023 | PITTSBURGH, Pa.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (June 1, 2023) — A new grant awards program created to recognize nonprofit organizations throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, western and northeastern New York, and West Virginia launched today called the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program. The program will award grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 and is made possible by the Highmark Foundation. The theme for the inaugural year is "A Look at Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health and Philanthropy to Advance Community Health."
The awards and recognition program honors outstanding organizations, programs, collaborative efforts, and philanthropic initiatives that embody the values of the Highmark Foundation, which works to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across Highmark's footprint.
This program is an expansion of Highmark's corporate giving and community involvement program, Highmark Bright Blue Futures, which is designed to ensure healthier, brighter, stronger futures for all. The program focuses on improving equitable access to care, quality of life, and economic resilience in the communities the enterprise serves. Specifically, it aims to improve outcomes in two critical areas: Community Health and Community and Economic Resilience.
"We're thrilled to launch the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program to recognize the incredible impact nonprofit organizations have on so many of our communities," said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of Community Affairs for Highmark Health, "These grants will highlight and support initiatives that are leading the path in making the lives of families, individuals, and communities healthier, stronger, and more successful."
"The Highmark Foundation is pleased to make possible this inaugural award program to celebrate and honor the work that is being done to improve access to health care and health outcomes for individuals throughout the communities that we serve," said Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation.
Eligible nonprofit organizations can self-apply for grants in several categories, or they can be nominated by others in the community. Organizations who have not received significant funding (a single grant over $50,000) in the past six years from Highmark Inc., its affiliates, subsidiaries, the Highmark Foundation, its restricted funds, or Blueprints for the Community may apply or be nominated. Further criteria are outlined in the application. Grant award categories include:
Organizational Excellence — This award recognizes organizations focused on improving health status in the communities they serve through a health equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) lens. The goal is to identify new and innovative ways to bring equitable healthcare strategies to communities. These areas can include service delivery, system transformation, technology, or improving quality.
Impactful Programming — This award recognizes programs designed to improve the health and well¬being of individuals through innovative novel approaches targeting specific health, equity and/or SDOH issues, demonstrating leadership, and achieving quantifiable results.
Collaboration — This award is based on organizations' abilities to work together to improve community health status and achieve sustainable results. This can include improving patient outcomes, innovation, or improving community health status among diverse groups.
Philanthropy — This award will recognize and celebrate a philanthropic organization whose leadership advances innovative solutions and demonstrates meaningful progress toward community health issues. This is a match award and is not eligible for application.
Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards nominations can be submitted at https://highmarkfoundationrfp.versaic.com/login.
Applications will be received until 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 10. Awardees will be notified in July, and a hybrid event to celebrate the awardees will take place in Pittsburgh Monday, September 25, 2023. For more information visit www.highmark.com/brightbluefutures.
About the Highmark Foundation
The Highmark Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) private, charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals who reside in the communities served by Highmark, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. We fulfill our missing by awarding high-impact grants to charitable organizations that implement evidence-based programs aimed at improving community health. Central to the Foundation's mission is identifying and continuously reevaluating our region's prevailing health care needs. By doing so, the Foundation remains at the forefront of those needs, well equipped to pinpoint the issues that more urgently need support.
In 2021, two new restricted funds were established at the Highmark Foundation — the Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health and the United Concordia Dental Charitable Fund. These funds support the ongoing work of the Highmark Foundation across its footprint and beyond.
For more information, visit www.highmarkfoundation.org and follow the Highmark Foundation on LinkedIn.
Contact:
Bethany Ross
Highmark Health
304-347-7698
Bethany.ross@highmarkhealth.org