Highmark Foundation awards $50,000 grant to sponsor Penn State College of Medicine's 2024 Black Maternal Health Week initiatives
April 9, 2024 | PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh (April 9, 2024) — The Highmark Foundation today announces a $50,000 grant for the Women's Health Center in the College of Medicine at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to fund its initiatives in honor of April's National Minority Health Month. The organization is hosting a series of educational activities during Black Maternal Health Week April 11-17.
Specifically, the one-time grant will help support the College of Medicine's Black maternal health programming efforts, including improving access and outreach to pregnant women in the community, increasing education efforts for patients, nursing, staff, trainees, providers, and doulas, and supporting research endeavors with underserved, at-risk populations.
"The Highmark Foundation is honored to partner with Penn State Health on such a critical healthcare issue," said Highmark Foundation President Yvonne Cook. "Every day they address health barriers and stress factors that Black pregnant women and new mothers face, and this week showcases the meaningful work they do every day."
Penn State College of Medicine's Academic Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Tonya Wright explained, "We're thrilled to raise awareness and address the maternal health crisis Black women face through this important week. We're offering free community events, keynote presentations, educational sessions, and more to empower Black mothers and mothers-to-be in their health journeys toward the best outcomes possible for mothers and their families."
Learn more about Penn State Health's Black Maternal Health Week events and registration info at www.pennstatehealthnews.org/events.
About Highmark Foundation
The Highmark Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) private, charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, wellbeing, 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