News and updates from Point32Health Foundation

October 27, 2022

JF&CS honored with Maude Award

Jewish Family and Children's Services of Boston (JF&CS) has earned national recognition for fostering leadership and offering support and companionship for people living with dementia. They share the 2022 Maude Award with the Dementia Action Alliance, for the collaborative development of the Living Well with Dementia at the Café initiative.

JF&CS is in the forefront of work to engage and serve communities more inclusively.

On November 15, JF&CS will share what they've learned about different communities and how to encourage open conversation at Let's Talk About Dementia and Culture 2022. Nora Moreno Cargie, president of the Point32Health Foundation and vice president of Corporate Citizenship at Point32Health has been asked to open the symposium.

A Foundation grant supports JF&CS's work to expand Dementia Friends programming and supports into communities of color and pilot a "community lead" partner role with community organizations.

New Worcester food pantry addresses unique concerns

With support from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Project Bread and a Point32Health Foundation grant, Thrive Support and Advocacy opened “Flourish at Thrive,” a food pantry designed to serve people with developmental disabilities.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute students helped create an accessible space, with shelves stocked with "gluten-free, dye-free and allergen-free food," said Stacey Forrester, chief operating officer at Thrive. She noted people who have developmental disabilities are four times more likely to have a food allergy or dietary restriction.

The new food pantry, recently featured on Spectrum News 1 and in the Worcester Telegraph, is one example of the 34 grants made in 2022 to community organizations across the five states we serve.

Learn more about our 2022 community investments on our website or schedule time with the team to share your work and explore possible support.

Point32Health Foundation prioritizes community-led solutions and work that addresses systemic inequities through support to organizations increasing access to healthy foods, advancing healthy aging and promoting behavioral health. 

Local advocate to lead Groundworks USA

Heather McMann, the longtime leader of Groundworks Lawrence, has been selected as the new executive director of Groundwork USA.

The organization “engages everyday people and communities to tangibly improve their environmental, economic, and social conditions, increase the likelihood of upward mobility, and improve health and overall quality of life.”

During her time in Lawrence, Heather collaborated with other community partners in a multi-stakeholder group that planned, assessed and developed strategies to support age-friendly efforts in Lawrence. This work was supported by a Foundation grant.

Engaging grantmakers to grow and learn

Several members of the Foundation team attended the Grantmakers In Aging conference this month, the first in-person gathering since 2019.

Phillip González, director of community investments, and Alrie McNiff Daniels, director of communications and stakeholder

engagement, facilitated a breakfast conversation on how the pandemic changed grantmaking practices and the lessons we should carry forward.

Caitlin Sullivan, program officer, joined Phillip and Alrie for sessions on public policy in support of aging, funder collaboration and age-friendly communities. Noteworthy was the panel on Age-Friendly states, which featured Massachusetts’ work and called out the Foundation specifically for its strategic investments. 

Demonstrating our commitment to civic engagement 

Point32Health is offering colleagues paid time off to vote on Election Day.

In a message to colleagues, Kristin Lewis, a Foundation board member and chief public and community affairs officer for Point32Health, said, "By voting on Nov. 8, you are participating in a fundamental right to elect candidates who will represent you, your interests and policies that matter to you."

Through this act, Point32Health is affirming its lived values

and specific commitment to civic engagement.

Image by Amber from Pixabay

Submit requests for sponsorship support by Dec. 2

If your organization intends to seek sponsorship support from Point32Health, Point32Health Foundation, CarePartners of Connecticut, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care or Tufts Health Plan for a 2023 event, please submit an online application by Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, to be included in this early review.

While you may not be able to provide all the details for your 2023 event, you are asked to share as much information as you have at this time. Please include on your specific request information for all sponsorship levels available. You may reach out to us during the year as updates and more information become available.

Learn more about our online system.

Team contributes $200,000+ to Alzheimer's Association

The Point32Health Walk to End Alzheimer's team far exceeded its goal--building a team of 430+ colleagues, friends and family and raising more than $100,000. To promote engagement and boost fundraising, we hosted a mini-golf tournament for colleagues in the Canton office.

With the Foundation match, more than $200,000 will go to support the Alzheimer's Association's critical programs, advocacy and research.

For the 300,000 people living with Alzheimer’s and the 570,000 unpaid caregivers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, every dollar raised, and every champion for the cause provides hope and takes us one step closer toward a world without the disease.

Tools and resources for caregivers and those impacted by Alzheimer's can be found here.

COO team collects food for Canton Food Pantry

Nearly 40 colleagues from the Chief Operations Officer Division at Point32Health participated in a team service activity to benefit the Canton Food Pantry.

The group contributed more than 300 pounds of non-perishable food items and walked around the campus track to support people experiencing food insecurity.

The Canton Food Pantry also will receive a $500 team volunteer service match from the Point32Health Foundation for the team’s service.

Two colleagues; two different ways to connect with community

Volunteering for Brittany Watson, a complex claims processor, is a way to not only get out of the house, but also give back to her community. As a blood donor ambassador for the American Red Cross of New Hampshire, Brittany helps set up donor locations, greets donors and verifies appointments, distributes snacks and makes sure donors wait the requisite time before leaving after they give blood.

A long-time blood donor herself, Brittany has discovered a surprising benefit of volunteering at blood drives. As donors — many who are longtime residents and now retired — wait their turn to give blood, Brittany chats with them and learns more about her town's history.

“I like helping because I feel more connected to my community,” Brittany said. “In the last two years, we have had all kinds of reasons to stay apart; volunteering gives us a chance to connect with other human beings again.”

Marcel Philippe, director of sales for Medicare, has been passionate about soccer all his life. He now shares that passion with young people as a coach and board member for Haverhill Youth Soccer. This 100 percent volunteer-run nonprofit is dedicated to promoting the culture of soccer for children ranging from four years old through high school, building skills and confidence while also instilling the importance of sportsmanship.

As a coach, first for his son’s team and now for his daughter’s, Marcel is on the field twice weekly for practices and on Saturday for games during the spring and fall seasons. “It’s important to our organization that on the field the kids work hard and learn the game, but most of all, have fun,” Marcel said.

As a board member, Marcel serves in two roles: As secretary, he is responsible for documentation during meetings and recording votes; as risk manager, he ensures that all volunteers are trained, credentialed, and have undergone a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.

For Brittany and Marcel, giving back is important. Thank you both for your commitment to community! 

In case you missed it: Corporate Citizenship Report

• Corporate Citizenship Report: Creating a Shared Future

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