Point32Health Foundation and Corporate Citizenship update | |
|
Funding will help food banks respond to growing need
Point32Health Foundation today announced grants totaling $700,000 to seven food banks in the region. Connecticut Foodshare, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Greater Boston Food Bank, New Hampshire Food Bank, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and Worcester County Food Bank each will receive $100,000 to increase capacity to address the growing need in communities for emergency food support.
These resources support general operations, staff salaries, the purchase of fresh and non-perishable food, and fuel costs for distribution.
| |
|
Save the date: Reporting back to community webinar
Hundreds of people shared their wisdom and experience over the course of this year through community listening sessions, key informant interviews, and focus groups. In addition, the Foundation team engaged in hundreds of conversations as we considered what proposals to support in the communities where we live and work. Your insights and perspectives into community priorities have helped us to better understand what is important and consider how we can support solutions driven by you.
Mark your calendars for a webinar on Wednesday, March 29, to learn how your contributions shaped our new strategic plan. Further details and registration information for the webinar will be shared in January.
The Findings from Community Engagement Activities for Point32Health Foundation: What We Heard webinar recording and/or slide deck are posted on our website. We will continue to listen throughout this process. You’re welcome to email our Community Investment team or schedule a meeting during open office hours.
| |
|
Improving access to healthy food in Lynn
Phoenix Food Hub is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Greater Lynn Senior Services as part of Lynn Food Security Task Force. The one-stop-shop offers people of all ages access to resources and ways to better manage health and well-being.
The Hub officially opened its doors on Dec. 8, with a ribbon-cutting celebration that included Secretary Elizabeth Chen, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and Mayor Jared Nicholson, City of Lynn.
This collaborative project launched with support from Point32Health Foundation. The Phoenix Food Hub also offers residents nutrition screening and counseling programs along with indoor winter farmers markets.
| |
|
Grantmakers in Aging Equity Awards
The Grantmakers in Aging (GIA) Task Force on Equity in Aging Philanthropy convened during GIA's annual conference last month to honor Metta Fund as the 2022 recipient of the John Feather Equity in Aging Philanthropy Award. The award celebrates funders working to create a more equitable philanthropic sector through their operations, programs, and grantmaking.
Pictured above (far right) is Phillip González, director of Community Investments, with other members of the Task Force on Equity in Aging Philanthropy.
| |
|
Celebrating team milestones
We have a remarkable Foundation and Corporate Citizenship team--and two of our team recently marked a significant milestone, 10 years with the organization.
We celebrated by compiling a list of the "Top Ten" things we love about them
The list for Stacey Mann, director of Corporate Citizenship, noted her strong collaborative nature, her outstanding data analytics skills and her generous spirit. For Regina Donovan, our office manager, the list celebrated her ability to solve virtually any problem for any team member, her mind-reading superpower and her huge heart.
We also celebrated the end of the year with an afternoon of bowling--a metaphor for knocking down barriers, advancing our mission, keeping score and doing all of it as a team.
| |
|
In the news: Organizations led by board members receive major donations
Two organizations led by Point32Health Foundation board members received media coverage this month for significant contributions.
A $1 million gift from philanthropist Steven P. Rosenthal to Northeast Arc will help children and adults with, or at risk for developing, disabilities become full participants in the community. Jo Ann Simons is the CEO of Northeast Arc.
The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) received $4 million earlier this month from Mackenzie Scott. The money will supplement projects across the U.S. to improve children’s health and elevate access to healthcare for communities of color. Heidi Brooks is the NICHQ COO.
| |
|
Board member shares perspective on how structural inequities fail patients
Ben Perkins, a Foundation board member, is on the Wisdom Council at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The group channels community insights and recommendations to the hospital’s Healing ARC initiative. Healing ARC is focused on eliminating inequities in patient care for people of color.
In a recent article, Ben noted “racist systems and structures bear the fault for inequities in patient care,” and said the solutions are rooted in community. “We are changing ingrained habits that privileged a specific group of patients. It was built into the system. But now that system has changed, it’s fairer, it’s more equitable.”
“As an individual who has experienced losing family members because of inequities in healthcare, I see real power in the hospital acknowledging their wrong,” Ben said.
But that’s just the first step. Ben explained, “Community voices will be in the forefront for the final stages. We want to be in a relationship where the community and the hospital mutually agree to the course of redress and we need to define together what closure is.”
Read more about the Healing ARC model to address institutional inequities.
| |
Jo Ann Simons recognized by Boston Business Journal
Congratulations to Jo Ann Simons, CEO of Northeast Arc and member of our Foundation board. Boston Business Journal honored Jo Ann as one of the 2022 Women Who Mean Business.
Jo Ann has spent her career dedicated to human services, improving the system, and creating resources for people with learning and intellectual disabilities.
Access the story here (subscription required).
| |
|
Centering empathy in Latine communities
Philanthropy can take many forms. Last month, Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Point32Health Foundation and vice president of Corporate Citizenship at Point32Health, joined the Philanthropy Professionals of Color network of the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy for a virtual discussion.
Lee Cruz, director of community outreach for the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and Frances Padilla, executive vice president of the Universal Healthcare Foundation of Connecticut, also were present on the panel. Each panelist shared their lived perspectives on Latine philanthropy in the Northeast.
| |
|
Dementia symposium focuses on disparities, strengths and the need to adapt to reach all communities
Dementia Friends Massachusetts, a program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Boston, hosted Let’s Talk about Dementia and Culture 2022 on Nov. 15.
The agenda highlighted that dementia affects every community, and each has different strengths and needs. Hundreds of diverse dementia educators and advocates shared their experiences and insights. They included representatives from Black/African American, Chinese, Brazilian/Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Spanish-speaking, and Southeast Asian communities, as well as those working with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Nora and Phillip attended portions of the program and welcomed participants.
| |
|
#GivingTuesday: Together, we gave
Our community of care was on full display this #GivingTuesday. Board and colleague donations to nonprofit organizations are approaching $300,000. With the double match from the Foundation, a total of more than $800,000 will be distributed to community organizations advancing our mission of healthier lives for everyone.
The team also organized on-site and remote service activities for colleagues. Overall, colleagues packed 198 hygiene kits and wrote 200 well-wish notes for Heading Home and Services for the Elderly of Farmington; crafted 18 fleece blankets with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley to support people experiencing homelessness; painted murals with Foundation for Hospital Art to soften hospital environments; and created cards for children served by Cradles to Crayons. In all, 80 colleagues volunteered their time on #GivingTuesday.
| |
|
Spreading cheer during our Wish Drive
Point32Health colleagues donated more than $12,000 in gifts and essentials during our annual Wish Drive.
Goods will go to people experiencing economic uncertainty across the region. We are working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Casa Project Worcester, the New England Center and Home for Veterans, Webster House, and the Pawtucket YMCA to distribute these resources.
| |
|
In case you missed it: Corporate Citizenship Report
| |
|
Point32Health Foundation in the news
Want to read more about grantee initiatives and Foundation activities?
Visit our newsroom
| |
|
Working with communities to support, advocate
and advance healthier lives for everyone.
| | |
|
|
1 Wellness Way
Canton, MA 02021
781-612-1000
| | | | | |
