Recipients of Excellus BCBS health equity awards address health challenges affecting local communities

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced the recipients of its 2025 Health Equity Innovation Awards, an annual funding opportunity that supports nonprofit organizations working to eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes across upstate New York. The selected organizations are leading efforts to close gaps in care through innovative, community-driven solutions tailored to the unique needs of the people they serve.

Twenty-two nonprofit organizations in the Rochester, Central New York/Southern Tier, and Utica/North Country regions were chosen from a competitive pool of nearly three hundred applicants. Their proposals stood out for their creativity, measurable impact, and alignment with the shared goal of building healthier, more equitable communities.

Focus areas for funding in each region were strategically identified through community needs assessments, which helped pinpoint the most pressing health challenges and disparities affecting local populations.

For example, according to the Feeding America – Map the Meal Gap 2023 report, food insecurity is a growing concern across New York, affecting more than 2.8 million residents. Individuals facing food insecurity often rely on inexpensive, calorie-dense foods that lack nutritional value, contributing to higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. These patterns are especially prevalent in underserved communities where access to fresh produce and healthy food options is limited.

“We support these programs because they align with our mission to help people live healthier lives,” said Dr. Simone Edwards, vice president for health equity and community investments at Excellus BCBS. “By partnering with organizations that are deeply connected to their communities, we’re helping to create sustainable solutions that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

The Health Equity Innovation Awards will help advance a wide range of initiatives, including:
• Community-centered mental health and wellness programs
• Community-based chronic disease prevention and education
• Maternal and child health support services
• Food access and nutrition initiatives
• Workforce development and training in health-related fields

This initiative reflects Excellus BCBS’s ongoing commitment to advancing community health by investing in programs that promote equity, expand access to care, and empower underserved populations.

Award recipients and their funded programs are outlined below.

Central New York Region

A Tiny Home for Good – Lead Freedom House:Renovates a Syracuse property to provide free, temporary housing for families during lead remediation.

InterFaith Works – Telehealth education for older adults: Expands workshops and one-on-one support to help seniors use telehealth and improve access to care.

Ithaca Health Alliance – Behavioral health consultant program: Launches Free Clinic program offering quick triage and short-term counseling, linking patients to ongoing mental health care.

Oswego Health Foundation – Online prenatal education: Provides free virtual classes on pregnancy, postpartum care, breastfeeding, and infant safety to overcome rural access barriers.

Restoreforlife, Inc. – Healing through the arts: Uses creative expression and guided circles to help families build coping skills, resilience, and emotional wellness.

The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York, Inc. (WCNY) WCNY – Behind the Woman career challenge: Connects Syracuse high school students with mentors for hands-on health career learning, hospital shadowing, and research projects.

United Way – Healthy Start, Safe Home: Embeds navigators and peer advocates in high-risk neighborhoods to improve maternal and early childhood health through education and resources.

Rochester Region

Coordinated Care Services Inc. – Welcome care packages: Provides 175 low-income clients with care packages at their first counseling visit, including essentials, self-care tools, and resource referrals. The pilot also trains staff in trauma-informed care and evaluates impact for scaling.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County – Community wellness education: Wellness in Motion combines physical activity, nutrition education, and chronic disease management to help older adults stay active, reduce fall risk, and improve overall health.

Enlace – Health literacy with QR wearable technology: Uses wearable QR codes and personalized training to help individuals with limited English proficiency access health information, use telehealth, and navigate care systems.

Mt. Hope Family Center – MHFC transportation: Provides reliable transportation for low-income families to mental health programs, removing barriers to therapy, support groups, and after-school sessions.

Regional Health Reach Inc. – Health Reach closing the gaps: Delivers preventive care and mental health services to Rochester’s unsheltered population through mobile outreach with a nurse practitioner and therapist.

ROC the Future Alliance – PreK prescriptions: Partners with pediatricians to “prescribe” PreK enrollment during well-child visits, connecting families to early learning and improving kindergarten readiness.

Southern Tier Region

Binghamton Philharmonic Inc. – Social prescribing program: Offers complimentary concert tickets through healthcare partnerships to reduce isolation and improve health for the IDD community.

Broome County Council of Churches – Greater Good Grocery mobile market bus: Operates an ADA-accessible mobile market bus to deliver affordable, healthy food to residents in county food deserts.

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga – Tioga Fresh mobile café: Provides free meals and groceries to more than 3,000 rural residents, reducing food insecurity and connecting families to health resources.

Family Enrichment Network Inc. – Help Me Grow: Promotes developmental screening and connects families to care, strengthening early childhood systems and school readiness.

Rural Health Network of SCNY Inc. – Produce prescription program: Card technology pilot: Expands a long-standing produce prescription program with a card-based system to improve access to fresh food for patients with chronic conditions.

Utica Region

Bassett Medical Center – Bassett Cancer Institute partnership: Provides medically tailored meals to cancer patients in Otsego County, addressing food insecurity and improving health outcomes.

Madison County Rural Health Council – Mental Health First Aid trainings: Offers evidence-based training for schools, community groups, and healthcare settings to identify and respond to mental health challenges, reducing stigma and improving access.

Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees – Healthy Pathways nutrition program: Delivers culturally responsive nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and strategies for healthy eating to 500 refugees and immigrants.

St. Lawrence Health Foundation – Living in Balance: A peer-led initiative: Supports recovery from substance use through peer-led groups and the Living in Balance curriculum, helping participants build coping skills and resilience.

For the latest information on Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s community investments and partnerships, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/community