Health-benefits company’s seventh year of local giving; funds have transformed area nonprofits
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As they work to help the less fortunate, nonprofit organizations continue to feel the sting of the economic downtown, often coping with budget decreases while experiencing greater need in local communities. A 2010 GuideStar fundraising survey underscored this funding need, with the majority of charitable organizations reporting an increased need for their services and 22 percent of nonprofits anticipating a decline in contributions.
Houston nonprofits have a way to apply for additional funding for their programs this year thanks to a local charitable awards program sponsored by health-benefits and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM). Charities in Houston are now invited to apply for the $100,000 Humana Communities Benefit – Houston grant. For seven consecutive years, the health-benefits company has awarded at least $100,000 yearly to local nonprofits working to improve the well-being of the greater Houston area.
In total, Humana Communities Benefit has invested more than $700,000 in Houston-area community health initiatives. Previous grant winners have expanded programs using bicycles as learning incentives, built teen programs at homeless shelters, bought a refrigerated truck for a mobile food pantry program, purchased a mobile search and recovery lab to help find missing children, helped fund an outdoor riding ring for disabled children, and furnished a women’s clinic for obstetrics services.
“I encourage Houston nonprofits, large and small, to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for the Humana Communities Benefit grant,” said Pattie Dale Tye, president of commercial operations for Humana in Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. “This grant can have a transformative effect on a deserving nonprofit, giving a charity the opportunity to impact the community in a way it might not have dreamed possible.”
The program is open to 501(c)(3) organizations located in the Houston area focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of:
- Childhood health and education – projects or initiatives that seek to improve health and academic achievement of children through the educational landscape.
- Family wellness and active lifestyles – projects or initiatives that strengthen the health of families through physical, social, mental, emotional or environmental support.
- Health literacy for diverse populations and seniors – projects or initiatives dedicated to improving people’s ability to access, understand, and use health information, especially low-income populations, and seniors.
Applications from eligible nonprofit organizations in Houston are being accepted now through Friday, June 17. A panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, will work with Humana to select the $100,000 grant winner. The goal of this $100,000 contribution to a nonprofit in each eligible location is to make a positive, transformational impact on the organization that allows it to reach greater milestone goals. Finalists will make a formal presentation before the panel of community leader judges. The Humana Communities Benefit – Houston winner will be announced at a celebratory dinner in September.
Humana Communities Benefit – Houston began in 2005 and has awarded grants to six area charities with $100,000 grants:
- In 2010, Elves & More, a nonprofit organization that changes children’s lives one bike at a time, used the grant to expand its bicycle program, delivering 2,000 new bicycles to at-risk children in schools with Rodeo Institute for Teaching Excellence reading programs.
- In 2009, Star of Hope Mission, a homeless shelter and recovery program, used the grant to expand their existing Teen Program. Funding purchased passenger vans, audio-visual equipment, computers and furniture for the program.
- In 2008, the Houston Food Bank, the largest source of food for hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties, used the grant to support its Mobile Pantry Program including the purchase of new refrigerated trucks.
- In 2007, Texas Center for the Missing, an organization that provides support for families, law enforcement and volunteers searching for missing children, used the grant to purchase a Mobile Search and Education Lab.
- In 2006, SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Center, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities using horseback riding, used the grant to fund an outdoor riding arena in Spring, Texas.
- In 2005, El Centro de Corazon, a women’s health and pediatric care clinic located in East Houston, used the grant to furnish a women’s clinic for obstetrics services.
In 2011, Humana will provide close to $1 million to nonprofits through eight Humana Communities Benefits programs throughout the nation, including Houston.
Houston nonprofit organizations are encouraged to visit www.Humana.com/HCB to download a copy of this year’s application and review program guidelines. Questions can also be directed to Humana by e-mail to [email protected].
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.2 million medical members, 7.1 million specialty members, and operates more than 300 medical centers and 240 worksite medical facilities. Humana is a full-service benefits and well-being solutions company, offering a wide array of health, pharmacy and supplemental benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals, as well as primary and workplace care through its medical centers and worksite medical facilities.
Over its 50-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s Web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases
- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
- Corporate Governance Information
CONTACT:
Humana Corporate Communications
Ross McLerran, 210-617-1771
[email protected]
http://www.Humana.com/HCB
KEYWORDS: United States North America Texas
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Seniors Health Philanthropy Professional Services Insurance Consumer Foundation General Health Managed Care
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