The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) announced nearly $1.7 million in funding to support its Building Healthier Communities and Bolstering the Health Care Workforce programs. The grants are aimed at supporting nursing education and improving the health and wellness of more than 10,000 residents across southeastern Pennsylvania, including seniors, children, and diverse underserved populations.
Twenty-one nursing schools are the recipients of Nurses for Tomorrow® grants, including first time grantee Penn State Abington. These grants are awarded as part of the Bolstering the Health Care Workforce program and fund scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral nursing students. To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly $9 million in nursing scholarship grants.
In this latest cycle of Building Healthier Communities grant funding, the Foundation supported 16 organizations:
- Bhutanese American Organization: empowers the Bhutanese population through employment and education development and cultural integration support.
- Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia: supports Cambodian refugees and families through health services, advocacy, and cultural education.
- Center for Grieving Children: provides grieving children with the tools to heal, grow, and cope with the loss of a loved one.
- Fund for Philadelphia, Inc.: Philadelphia-based healthy youth initiative focused on improving quality of life through activity.
- Good Samaritan Shelter: services homeless individuals with emergency shelter and transitional housing.
- Jewish Relief Agency: provides monthly food distribution services to minority families facing food and economic insecurity and mental health disabilities.
- Meals On Wheels of Chester County, Inc.: delivers meals to individuals who are homebound.
- Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia, Inc.: addresses the cycle of poverty by providing early youth and adult education and development, and healthy aging programs.
- Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia: strengthens opportunities for success for immigrants and refugees through client-centered services.
- People’s Emergency Centers: advances opportunities for families through housing, job and life skills training, education, financial education, and planning.
- Philabundance: addresses hunger, particularly children and seniors, through food cupboards, shelters, emergency kitchens, and more.
- Smith Memorial Playground: provides a free safe space for children to interact and play together.
- Supportive Older Women’s Network: addresses isolation in older adults through health education and opportunities for socialization.
- Turning Points for Children: serves youth and families with family support services.
- Veteran’s Multi-Service Center, Inc.: provides comprehensive resources to veterans.
- YMCA of Greater Brandywine: engages community members in activities that develop values and confidence, improve health, and unite community members.
