The Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation works with organizations in Empire’s 28-county service area to help improve the health of New Yorkers. Through our focus on heart health, cancer prevention, prenatal care, diabetes prevention, active lifestyles and behavioral health, the Foundation is teaming with organizations that are setting the standard when it comes to innovative programs that offer long term health solutions.
In New York, the Foundation provided nearly $1.4 million in grants during 2016. Empire contributed another $294,650 in additional community support. A quick look at some of this year’s highlights illustrates how our work with these non-profits is helping to reduce health disparities and empower people to take control of their health:
• Boys & Girls of America: 722 youth engaged in healthy, active lifestyles as a result of the seven grants that were made to support Triple Play Club programs.
• Disabled Sports USA: Adaptive sports programming was provided to 40 youth with disabilities in Albany.
• March of Dimes: Through our support of the ‘Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait’ program, 462 women received direct services including Centering Pregnancy and the high risk prenatal program at Elmhurst Hospital; 210 providers and 5,950 individuals were reached indirectly through health education.
• OASIS Institute: In partnership with Bronx House, the CATCH Program was able to reach 779 adults and 175 children in 18 sites in Bronx this year. Adult volunteers were engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for an average of 53 percent of the physical activity portion of the program; a 46 percent increase was achieved with regard to total minutes of moderate physical activity by adult volunteers; and the program saw a 100% increase in total minutes of vigorous physical activity by adult volunteers.
• New York City Department of Parks and Rec: In 2016, we announced 100 new ShapeUP NYC exercise classes – and the addition of 20 bilingual classes.
• Child Center of New York: Through our support of the Asian Outreach Project, 2013 NYC students who suffer from emotional/behavioral issues were screened. Ninety-five percent of screened children were then engaged in crisis intervention and/or an assessment and 70 percent received therapy at their schoolIn addition to the support given directly to these organizations, Empire associates volunteered 6530 hours to benefit a number of nonprofits in the state, earning $40,000 in the company-sponsored “Dollars for Doers” grants. Two New York associates received support through the associate emergency fund, totaling more than $13,000. And, supported by a Foundation match, Empire associates raised more than $237.000 through the company’s year-round Associate Giving Program.
In addition to the support given directly to these organizations, Empire associates volunteered 6530 hours to benefit a number of nonprofits in the state, earning $40,000 in the company-sponsored “Dollars for Doers” grants. Two New York associates received support through the associate emergency fund, totaling more than $13,000. And, supported by a Foundation match, Empire associates raised more than $237.000 through the company’s year-round Associate Giving Program.
