West Virginia Press Association
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Highmark Bright Blue Futures has announced the second annual Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards Program. Made possible by the Highmark Foundation, this awards program will recognize nonprofit organizations throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, western and northeastern New York, and West Virginia that demonstrate commitment to and advancement of health equity.
The Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards has adopted the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention’s definition of health equity: Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.
“I am inspired by the dedication of the many organizations working tirelessly to advance health equity,” said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of Community Affairs for Highmark Health. “We’re thrilled to host this second annual Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards program to recognize those that are making an incredible impact as we move toward a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
This program is part 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.
“The Highmark Foundation is honored to continue to support this program which highlights the incredible impact of organizations that are doing the work to move the needle on health equity throughout our communities. Everyone deserves to be healthy and have the opportunity to live a long fulfilling life,” said Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation.
Eligible 501c3 nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York that did not receive a 2023 Highmark Bright Blue Futures can self-apply for this grant opportunity. This year’s program includes two grant categories: Highmark Bright Blue Futures Award and Philanthropic Match Award. The philanthropic match award is two-fold: the Highmark Foundation will recognize a philanthropic organization that has demonstrated a commitment to health equity along with a nonprofit that they have or plan to fund in 2024. This year the program will award grants from $15,000 up to $100,000. Further criteria are outlined in the application. Awards nominations can be submitted at https://highmarkfoundationrfp.versaic.com/login.
Interested organizations can learn more by attending a learning webinar. Webinar dates and times will be posted at www.highmarkfoundation.org.
Applications will be received until 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2024. Awardees will be notified in July, and an event to celebrate the awardees will take place in Pittsburgh on Monday, September 23, 2024.
About the 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.
