Highmark Delaware awards over $200,000 in support of health efforts across the state

Wilmington, Del. (April 1, 2024) — Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware announces over $200,000 in BluePrints for the Community grants for the first quarter 2024.

"Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is pleased to award these first grants of 2024, adding to our legacy of over 15 years of investing in community health," said Nick Moriello, president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware. "We are grateful for the thoughtful work being led by our community-based organizations."

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.

“Health is at the root of our ability to not just survive, but thrive, and BluePrints continues to make every effort to address the evolving needs of our communities. We thank our nonprofit partners for their diligent work to improve health in Delaware,” said Rita Landgraf, chair of the BluePrints for the Community Advisory Council.

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

BluePrints grants awarded in quarter one:

• Meet Me at the Well Foundation: Funding supports the training of healthcare workers in identifying and responding to complex trauma and human trafficking situations.
• AltruVision: Funding supports connecting eligible recipients of corneal tissue donations with the necessary transplant procedures to overcome visual impairments.
• Leading Youth Through Empowerment (LYTE): Funding supports the Health Sciences Career Exploration Program to increase interest in careers in health and medicine among students with diverse backgrounds.
• Jewish Federation of Delaware: Funding supports the filling and distribution of Dignity Totes, which include feminine hygiene and essential personal care products.
• Bringing Hope Home: Funding supports the Light of Hope Family Program, which negotiates medical expenses for patients being treated for cancer.

"Highmark Delaware is a crucial partner for identifying and addressing health-related issues in the state,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “BluePrints continues to provide tremendous support for a wide range of programs that directly impact people in our state.”