Member News

Rochester, NY – 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.

Rochester region award recipients and their funded programs are outlined below.

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.

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

# # #

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with about 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company's mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 4,000 employees, the health plan and its parent company are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.