Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Invests in Community Health Equity Across Upstate New York

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced the recipients of its 2026 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 awards recognize organizations that are driving meaningful progress through innovative, community-centered solutions designed to meet the unique needs of the people they serve.

This year, twenty-six nonprofit organizations across the Rochester, Central New York/Southern Tier, and Utica/North Country regions were selected from a competitive pool of nearly 300 applicants. The funded proposals were chosen based on their strong potential for measurable impact, sustainability, and alignment with a shared commitment to building healthier, more equitable communities.

Funding priorities in each region were informed by localized community needs assessments, which helped identify the most urgent health challenges and disparities affecting residents. Across upstate New York, community organizations continue to report increasing demand for essential services, driven by rising costs, limited access to care, and persistent inequities that affect where people live, work, and age.

“The need in our communities is growing, and meaningful progress requires solutions that are grounded in local experience and trust,” said Jim Reed, Excellus BCBS' president and CEO. “As your local, nonprofit health plan, we’re investing in organizations that understand their communities best and are creating real, lasting change that helps people live healthier lives.”

The 2026 Health Equity Innovation Awards will support 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

These awards reflect Excellus BCBS' ongoing commitment to advancing community health by investing in programs that promote equity, expand access to care, and strengthen the organizations working on the front lines of community wellbeing.

Central New York (CNY)

Onondaga Community College Foundation
Helps young children build early reading skills by bringing books and reading activities into neighborhood barbershops. These familiar spaces help kids feel comfortable while learning to read and build confidence.

Outpatient & Peer Recovery Services – C.H.A.D.
Supports people in recovery from substance use by adding trained peer supporters—people who have been through recovery themselves—into outpatient care. These peers help with appointments, staying on track with treatment, and finding needed support.

Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA)
Works to make healthy food easier to get in local neighborhoods. The program funds community-led ideas, supports local leaders, and helps people access foods that reflect their culture and preferences.

The Upstate Foundation (Joslin Diabetes Center)
Helps people with diabetes get better care by sharing data from devices like glucose monitors directly with their doctors. This helps care teams respond faster and adjust treatment when needed.

WIC on Wheels (CAPCO)
Brings WIC services straight to families using a mobile van. Families can receive nutrition support, health screenings, and education without needing to travel far—especially helpful for rural areas.

YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County
Reduces chronic disease disparities by combining mobile food access with evidence-based prevention programs and health navigation in underserved rural communities.

Rochester

Adaptt Rochester
Supports parents and babies by providing essential infant items as part of healthcare. This includes supplies like diapers, formula, wipes, and nutrition support for families who need extra help.

Geneseo Parish Outreach Center
Provides urgent dental care and transportation assistance for uninsured and underinsured individuals while promoting preventive oral health through community-based distribution.

Person Centered Housing Options
Supports people experiencing homelessness by offering mobile hygiene services like showers, laundry, and hygiene supplies. The program also helps connect people to healthcare and other support services.

The People’s Pantry
Offers a grocery-style food pantry where people can choose their own foods. The focus is on nutritious options and respecting personal and cultural food preferences.

University of Rochester Medical Center
Provides easy-to-understand health education in multiple languages. Community members also get help navigating healthcare and connecting to local services.

Southern Tier

AIM Independent Living Center
Offers walk-in help for people experiencing homelessness. Services include support with housing, benefits, jobs, and access to basic needs in one place.

Children's Home of Wyoming Conference
Supports children and families through after-school programs that include counseling, tutoring, meals, and transportation. The goal is to help families stay stable and children thrive.

Rural Health Network for South Central New York
Helps older adults in rural areas who feel lonely or depressed. The program offers mental health coaching and improves access to behavioral health services.

Samaritan Counseling Center
Uses data-driven tools to identify and reduce behavioral health inequities through targeted interventions, equity dashboards, and system-level accountability.

United Health Services Foundation
Supports maternal and infant health by providing new parents with essential supplies, education, and expanded breastfeeding and early care resources.

United Way of Broome County
Helps people access basic hygiene items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and menstrual products by distributing supplies through local partners.

Utica / North Country

Central New York Health Home Network
Connects children and families to healthcare and social services by working directly with schools, making support easier to reach.

Hospice and Palliative Care
Provides emotional support and counseling for older adults through individual and group sessions offered in the community.

St. Lawrence Health Foundation
Supports pregnant and new parents who are affected by substance use with services that focus on recovery, safety, and long-term stability.

Upstate Caring Partners
Offers 24/7 crisis support in a safe, home-like setting for people experiencing mental health emergencies, providing an alternative to the emergency room.

Contact:
Melissa Klinko Melissa.Klinko@excellus.com