February 25, 2022

One more community listening session

Due to high demand, Point32Health Foundation has worked with Health Resources in Action (HRiA) to schedule a seventh community listening session on March 10 open to representatives in all states. This session was added to accommodate those on waiting lists and to ensure everyone who wants to participate has the opportunity. Please click the link below to register.

• March 10, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (all states)

We are committed to removing barriers to participation. These listening sessions will be conducted in English, however engagement from all is important to us. If you have specific needs to better support your participation (e.g., translation services, financial support, accessibility aids and services, etc.), please let us know in the registration form as early as possible. We will strive to accommodate your needs. Our consultants are available to conduct more personalized conversations in other languages.

Simplified application removes barrier to SNAP enrollment

A new policy change will benefit hundreds of thousands of individuals across the Commonwealth as the result of advocacy work by the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Massachusetts Senior Action Council. The Foundation supports both organizations.

MassHealth applicants can now check a box on the application form to automatically open a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application at the same time. This change is an important step toward removing barriers to accessing needed benefits. And it is making a difference already.

As a result of adding the SNAP checkbox, 3,207 SNAP applications were received in the last 6.5 months (mid-July 2020 to Feb. 4, 2021). By comparison, 5,500 SNAP applications were received in 12 months (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) through outreach by nearly 100 SNAP partners. 

New grant supports expanded services for older people with low vision and blindness

This week, Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) announced they were successful in receiving a $250,000 grant from NextFifty, a Colorado-based organization. The grant expands services for older Massachusetts residents living with blindness and low vision and MABVI’s Age-Friendly initiative and Access Technology Training Program.

This additional resource builds on a pilot funded by a three-year grant awarded by our Foundation in 2019 to integrate vision rehabilitation and care into healthy aging models in Boston, Framingham, Lawrence and Springfield.

Inclusive programs that support people living with disabilities are integral to successful age-friendly initiatives. MABVI is a member of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC) which is also supported by the Foundation. MHAC developed an Inclusive Communities Toolkit to help communities engaged in the age- and dementia friendly movement, centering principles of access, equity and inclusion in their work.

MABVI also is working with state partners and five Gateway Cities to ensure health equity and access to care is prioritized for every individual who is blind or low vision.

Foundation colleague promotes health justice in philanthropy

A new piece coauthored by Henocson "Henny" Mulatre, our manager for Corporate Citizenship, was published by Grantmakers in Health (GIH). Henny joined other emerging leaders participating in GIH’s Terrance Keenan Institute to offer “resolutions for a revolution in philanthropy.” 

They urged funders to adopt strategies to support building or shifting power to nonprofit partners based on lessons learned during the pandemic.

• Support spaces for creativity 
• Create new entry points for nonprofits to access funding
• Remove and reduce restrictions and administrative processes 

New year, new website

The Point32Health Foundation successfully launched our website earlier this month. It features grantee stories, resources for those working on healthy aging and improving access to healthy food, and ways to contact our team.

The content continues to evolve and reflect our work with community organizations.

Supporting new beginnings

Point32Health colleagues gave time and money to support people experiencing homelessness through two activities organized by Corporate Citizenship.

The Household Essentials Drive supported people transitioning from homelessness to stable housing, This month, colleagues donated nearly $10,000 in cleaning supplies, bed sheets, towels, toiletries and more. These items will go to people served by:

• Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island – Providence, R.I.   
• DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended) - Quincy, Mass.
• Families in Transition - Manchester, N.H.
• Hearth - Boston, Mass.
• ImmaCare - Hartford, Conn.      
• Penobscot Community Health Care: Hope House Health and Living Center – Bangor, Maine       

On February 17, Point32Health's ICycle Team raised awareness and more than $6,000 to prevent homelessness. Riders gathered at International Place in Boston to spin and raise funds for HomeStart, a nonprofit committed to ending and preventing homelessness in Greater Boston. 

More than 26,000 people in New England are experiencing homelessness -- an issue disproportionately affecting people of color, older people, and those living on low incomes.

Working with communities to support, advocate

and advance healthier lives for everyone.

1 Wellness Way

Canton, MA 02021

 781-612-1000