We’re dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities, creating better places to live, work, play, and raise families. We focus on supporting initiatives that address health disparities, social determinants of health, and discrimination impacting our members and their neighborhoods. Through our partnerships, we strive to make a lasting difference for our members.

Healthier communities help us all

Being a local nonprofit health insurer challenges us to rethink our role as an insurer to broaden the definition of health and make care more accessible and affordable. This is key to our mission and the role of community investments.

The health of a community, including ease of access to care and community resources available that encourage and enable healthy habits can have a positive impact on a community. Community Investments supports, collaborates, and partners with local community-based organizations that promote healthy communities.

How we are helping

We are working every day to create better places to live, work, play, and raise families. This is a continuing commitment that you can count on. Take a look at the community impact we had in 2024 and continue to work towards.

 

Helping to ease food insecurity

Did you know that 13% of residents in Monroe County, which includes the city of Rochester, experience food insecurity? That’s why our employees volunteered their time and joined efforts with the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester to provide food and other essential items to more than 400 families, helping ease that burden and bring relief to those in our communities. The event was a powerful reminder of how collective action can bring relief, dignity, and hope to those in need.

 

The Neighborhood Center

We partnered with The Neighborhood Center, Inc. of Utica to support the Pasquale J. Creo Bikes for Tykes program. The program promotes safety and healthy lifestyles, distributing bicycles and safety equipment to income-qualified, at-risk youths in the community.

 

Tiny Homes for Good:

Tiny Homes for Good, a Syracuse nonprofit founded in 2014, builds affordable, permanent housing for individuals who have experienced homelessness and provides ongoing support to help them thrive. Our employees volunteer regularly to assist at Tiny Homes sites, and we’ve also contributed funding to support housing stability for families impacted by high lead levels in their homes—reinforcing our shared commitment to healthier communities and safe living environments.

 

Redhouse & Arc of Onondaga:

Redhouse and Arc of Onondaga partner to empower individuals with disabilities through theater. Over the year, participants receive personalized mentorship and training to build confidence, communication, and performance skills. The program begins in the fall with participants creating their own production and culminates in the spring with a mainstage musical performance—showcasing how creativity and collaboration foster self-expression and inclusion.

 

CNY Blessing Box:

The CNY Blessing Box is a grassroots initiative dedicated to bringing hope and support to community members in need across Central New York. Each year, volunteers unite to pack and distribute food bags and winter coats during a community event—where the overwhelming demand is evident as lines form early. This effort goes beyond providing essentials; it stands as a powerful testament to how compassion and collaboration can strengthen communities and create lasting change.

 

Advancing Health Equity and Supporting New Moms

We are helping advance health equity and maternal care through our support of United Health Services’ Stork Support Program, a new initiative providing essential items to new moms and babies during the critical early stages of life. Through this program, UHS will create personalized resource totes filled with necessities like diapers, bottles, and blankets --items that can make a big difference for families facing financial or social challenges. This effort not only ensures a healthier start for infants but also fosters confidence and security for mothers, with plans to grow through community engagement and donation drives.

 

Supporting Catholic Charities of Broome County

We proudly support Catholic Charities of Broome County by sponsoring their community lunch programs and holiday food drives. These initiatives help ensure that individuals and families facing food insecurity have access to nutritious meals and seasonal support. By partnering in these efforts, we strengthen our community, promote dignity, and provide hope during times of need.

Investment opportunities

It is our mission to support impactful community programs, opportunities to seek and apply for funding, and continue to make a real difference. Additional information is available for funding opportunities, guidelines, and timelines.

Component Title: Community Investments and Partnerships - Event Sponsorships

Sponsorships

Application submission available January through October

These awards support programs and events that align with our mission to promote access to high-quality, affordable health care—such as fundraisers, health fairs, seminars, and other health-related events.

Component Title: Community Investments and Partnerships - Health and Wellness Awards

Health and Wellness Awards

Application submission available April through October

These awards support funding for initiatives that improve health outcomes by addressing Social Determinants of Health. Priority will be given to proposals targeting conditions and factors linked to adverse health outcomes.

Component Title: Community Investments and Partnerships - Health Equity Innovation Grants

Health Equity Innovation Awards

Application submissions available January 14 through March 6

These awards support innovative projects that tackle health disparities and drive measurable improvements in health outcomes.

Health Equity Award Recipients for 2025

Component Title: Community Investments and Partnerships - Member and Community Health Improvement Program

Member and Community Health Improvement (MACHI) Grants

Applications available based on regional availability

This grant program aims to improve the health of our members and communities. We are committed to positively impacting all members of our communities, especially the marginalized or minoritized, by enhancing their health and quality of life. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s current goals are improving behavioral health, maternal health, and chronic condition management for members. Programs and initiatives focused on these areas are our current priority. We are interested in multi-year initiatives involving multiple community organizations with specific objectives and measurable outcomes.

Application Requirements

Component Title: Community Investments and Partnerships - Employee Volunteerism

Employee Volunteerism

Employee volunteerism aligns with our company’s vision and values of improving the health of our community. We provide employees with volunteer time off hours to cultivate community connections through volunteer service, engage with the community via board membership and help nurture meaningful community relationships. Community Based Organization’s that are seeking new applicants for their board of directors can contact a Community Investments and Partnerships lead for more information.

Contact us

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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield receives hundreds of corporate giving requests every year. Each corporate giving request that benefits a charitable organization will be reviewed. Our corporate giving must follow all applicable laws, regulations, and corporate policies and refrains from contributing to political organizations, political candidates and labor unions (unless the payees are registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations). In addition, we will not fund organizations that conflict with our corporate mission, goals, policies or products, including organizations that discriminate against persons or groups on the basis of age, political affiliation, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or religion.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s 31-county region includes: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates counties.

Modal for Health Equity Innovation Awards Application Information

 

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