Philadelphia Business Journal (Nov 11, 2024) – The Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards, now in its second year, recognize the critical work of nonprofits tackling health disparities across Highmark’s footprint of Pennsylvania, western and northeastern New York, Delaware and West Virginia. The program focuses on health equity, a concept aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition and champions the belief that everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best health.

“The Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards showcase the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing health disparities. These awardees are strong examples of bringing more equity and compassion to health care, and we’re inspired by their dedication and commitment,” said Ken Lawrence, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Highmark Blue Shield.

This year, 15 organizations received recognition and grants totaling $490,000 from the Highmark Foundation, which sponsors the awards program, to help them advance this work.

“We are proud to recognize and support these organizations, who are leading the way in creating a healthier future for all,” said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark Health. “They are demonstrating true leadership in addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes for underserved populations, making a tangible difference.”

Five signature award winners

The program, which received nearly 250 applications, selected five signature award winners:

• Maternity Care Coalition (Philadelphia): Dedicated to advancing maternal and child health, this organization provides wraparound services including case management, early education services, doula and lactation support, family therapy, and workforce development. Last year, they served over 5,000 families.*
• Center for Population Health (Johnstown, Pennsylvania.): This organization’s Community Care HUB provides a one-stop shop for improving health outcomes and addressing food and housing insecurity. Their work has resulted in over 2,200 referrals and over 5,000 pathways opened to address social determinants of health needs, including improvements in preterm births and low birthweight rates.*
• Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank (Pittsburgh): This organization provides a reliable supply of safe and ethically sourced donor milk for medically fragile infants. With one in 10 babies born preterm in the U.S., donor milk can significantly improve their health outcomes. The Mid-Atlantic Milk Bank has seen a 90% decrease in a devastating condition that disproportionately affects premature infants, demonstrating the life-saving impact of their work.*
• Buffalo Urban League (Buffalo, New York): This organization empowers African Americans, other minorities, and disadvantaged individuals to achieve economic self-reliance. They have provided vital services to over 100,000 members of the Buffalo community, helping individuals cope with mental health issues and tragic events. Their work includes training community health workers to bridge the gap between health care providers and underserved communities.*
• Westside Family Healthcare (Wilmington, Delaware): This community-minded organization provides equal access to quality health care for all. As the largest non-hospital primary care provider in Delaware, they serve over 27,000 patients annually. Their commitment to inclusivity is evident in their multi-lingual staff, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder access to care for the 40% of patients who do not speak English.*

Rising Star Awards

In addition to the signature awards, the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program gave 10 smaller grants to organizations demonstrating promise through unique ideas to impact health equity. These winners were:

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

“The Highmark Foundation is committed to supporting organizations that are working to improve the health of our neighbors,” said Highmark Foundation President Yvonne Cook. “These awardees embody the values of our foundation, and we are confident that their work will have a lasting impact on the communities they serve.”

Extending the conversation

Highmark presented the awards Sept. 23 as the kickoff for a two-day event focused on advancing health equity. The award ceremony also included a keynote speech from Ryan Leak, a best-selling author, executive coach, and transformational speaker who has worked with over 25,000 individuals, from Fortune 100 executives to professional sports teams.**

The following day, an exclusive thought leadership forum provided organizations and community leaders with a platform to delve deeper into strategies for advancing health equity. The forum included a panel discussion featuring current and past awardees, engaging breakout sessions, and opportunities for nonprofit and community leaders to connect, share expertise, and deepen their knowledge.

Highmark Bright Blue Futures is a charitable giving and community involvement program dedicated to healthier, brighter, stronger futures for all. The program’s strategy is supported by five pillars that play an important role in supporting the health and well-being of all: Access to Care, Economic Stability for Individuals and Families, Social and Community Context, Education Access, and Neighborhood and Built Environment.

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

*According to the information each organization provided in the application.

**According to Ryan Leak.

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