Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program recognizes extraordinary nonprofit organizations that are advancing health equity across Pennsylvania, Western and Northeastern New York, West Virginia, and Delaware

Sept. 23, 2024 | PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH (Sept. 23, 2024) — Nonprofit organizations across Highmark Health's footprint, which includes Pennsylvania, western and northeastern New York, West Virginia and Delaware, received awards today for their commitment to drive progress for health equity through the enterprise’s second annual Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program. Made possible by the Highmark Foundation, the awardees received grant funding, totaling $490,000.

In addition to the awards recognition, best-selling author, executive coach and transformational speaker Ryan Leak served as keynote speaker. Ryan has worked with over 25,000 individuals, from Fortune 100 executives to professional sports teams, guiding them on their journeys of transformation.

The Highmark Health headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh will illuminate a vibrant, dark blue from dusk to dawn, celebrating health equity and honoring the outstanding organizations, programs and collaborative efforts that have built healthier communities across Highmark's footprint.

The annual Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program launched in 2023 as an expansion of Highmark's corporate giving and community involvement program, Highmark Bright Blue Futures. This program is designed to ensure healthier, brighter, stronger futures for all and aims to improve outcomes in Community Health and Community and Economic Resilience.

"In our second year of hosting the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program, we are continuing to celebrate the impact these organizations are making that are achieving a breakthrough in health equity for individuals and families across our footprint," said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of Community Affairs for Highmark Health.

Highmark Foundation president Yvonne Cook added, "We are honored to recognize these organizations that amplify the values of the Highmark Foundation and are advancing health equity in this country."

The awards program received nearly 250 applications, each scored through a rigorous process. As a result, the following organizations received a Highmark Bright Blue Futures Signature Award:

Center for Population Health (Johnstown, Pa.)
The Center for Population Health's vision is to empower the community where all people have access to equitable health opportunities in their service area. The Center’s work has resulted in over 2,200 referrals leading to over 10,000 contacts made with participants and over 5,000 pathways opened to address social determinants of health needs, including improvements in preterm births and low birthweight rates.

Maternity Care Coalition (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Maternity Care Coalition is advancing maternal and child health and early care and education throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware. Serving over 5,000 families in the last year, they break down health equity barriers with wraparound services including case management, early education services, doula and lactation support, family therapy and workforce development.

Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
The Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank fulfills the need for a reliable supply of safe and ethically sourced donor milk for medically fragile infants in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and surrounding areas. With one in 10 babies born preterm in the U.S., donor milk can significantly improve their health outcomes. Nominated by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the Mid-Atlantic Milk Bank gives every baby a fighting chance. They have seen a 90 percent decrease in a devastating condition that disproportionately affects premature infants.

Buffalo Urban League (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The Buffalo Urban League's mission is to empower African Americans, other minorities and disadvantaged individuals to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. More than 100,000 community members have been provided services to cope with mental health issues and tragic events. Examples of their work include providing vital mental health support to over 11,000 individuals and training community health workers to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and underserved communities.

Westside Family Healthcare (Wilmington, Del.)
Westside Family Healthcare is a community-minded health center with the mission to improve the health of the Delaware community by providing equal access to quality healthcare. Westside Family Healthcare is the largest nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center in the state, serving more than 27,000 patients each year in underserved, diverse communities. Its staff includes multi-lingual members to meet the needs of the 40 percent of their patients who do not speak English.

Additionally, the following organizations received mini grants through the program's Rising Star awards, recognizing organizations and programs that have demonstrated promise through unique ideas to impact community health. The list of awardees is below:

• Catholic Charities (Wilmington, Del.)
• Hudson Headwaters Health Network (Albany, N.Y.)
• Latino Community Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
• Pennsylvania CASA Association (Bethlehem, Pa.)
• Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (Delmont, Pa.)
• Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Foundation (Lancaster, Pa.)
• Penn State Health (Hershey, Pa.)
• Roswell Park Alliance Foundation (Buffalo, N.Y.)
• South End Children's Café (Albany, N.Y.)
• West Virginia Health Right (Charleston, W.Va.)

On September 24, Highmark Bright Blue Futures will host its very first Thought Leadership Forum, gathering current and past awardees, community leaders and forward-thinking advocates to share insight on how every individual can play a part in advancing health equity.

For more information about Highmark Bright Blue Futures, visit www.highmark.com/brightbluefutures.

Contact:

Emily Kostelnik
Highmark Health
412-552-0402
emily.kostelnik@highmarkhealth.org

Bethany Ross
Highmark Health
Bethany.ross@highmarkhealth.org