search

Press Releases

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Highmark Delaware invests over $1 million to support health

Wilmington, Del. (December 14, 2023) — Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is pleased to announce $1,200,000 in BluePrints for the Community grants, bringing its total commitment for 2023 to more than $3.8 million.

BluePrints for the Community is a grants program of the Highmark Delaware Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF). Since BluePrints launched in 2007, the Highmark Delaware Fund has invested more than $38 million in initiatives to improve health outcomes throughout the entire state.

"Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield remains dedicated to collaborating with our nonprofits to improve health throughout Delaware," said Nick Moriello, president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware. "We are grateful for the thoughtful and impactful work being led by our community-based organizations."

BluePrints aims to increase access to care and reduce health disparities throughout the state. Supported programs and projects typically demonstrate progress in one of the following focus areas: healthcare access, economic stability for families and individuals, social and community context, neighborhood and built environment, and health workforce.

“As we close 2023 and reflect on the investments made through BluePrints in support of healthier outcomes across our state, I commend the commitment of our nonprofits and community leaders who are meaningfully addressing health access and health inequities," said Rita Landgraf, Chair of the BluePrints for the Community Advisory Council.

BluePrints grants awarded in this current round were:

  • Endless Possibilities in the Community, Inc: Expand EPIC’s “no walls” community-based wellness program that supports the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities through meaningful, self-determined inclusive fitness and social skills activities at local YMCAs.
  • TidalHealth: Attract and retain physicians in southern Delaware through a Graduate Medical Education Program to provide quality care, improve population health and access to healthcare in the community.
  • Catholic Charities – Diocese of Wilmington: Provide access to behavioral health counseling for the un/underinsured.
  • The Challenge Program: Provide mental health counseling workshops to high-risk young adults with history of chronic stress and trauma who are in the Challenge Program woodworking program.
  • AltruVision: Improve the overall health and well-being of our local community by providing access to sight-restoring corneal transplants.

“Highmark Delaware’s commitment to advancing health equity in Delaware is truly outstanding,” remarked Stuart Comstock-Gay, President and CEO of DCF. “Their partnership is instrumental in addressing the critical needs of communities throughout the First State.”

Please see the fourth quarter report for details on each award.

About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware serves approximately 500,000 members through the company’s health care benefits business. It is an influential company in the market generating an economic impact of $135 million and supporting more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware has been named a Top Workplace in Delaware and a Top Workplace USA. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmarkbcbsde.com.

About BluePrints for the Community
BluePrints for the Community, the grants program of the Highmark Delaware Fund at the Delaware Community Foundation, has contributed over $35 million to the community since its inception in 2007. It was established to serve Delawareans, with emphasis on increasing access to care, reducing health disparities and addressing social determinants of health. Learn more at www.highmark.com/blueprints. 

About the Delaware Community Foundation
The mission of the Delaware Community Foundation is to improve Delaware through community-based philanthropy. As a facilitator, information resource and manager of charitable funds, the DCF helps communities and philanthropists focus charitable resources for the greatest community benefit statewide. For more information, visit delcf.org or call 302.571.8004.

For more information, contact

Denee Crumrine
Highmark Delaware
410-322-5874
Denee.Crumrine@highmarkhealth.org