Limited access to quality health care disproportionately affects many communities, particularly those in rural areas or with low incomes. These populations often face significant infrastructural, financial, and geographic barriers. We are working to lessen these inequities by expanding access to preventive care, such as dental exams; providing better support and resources for specific diseases like diabetes and asthma; and empowering our community members to better manage their health. This year alone, we estimate that our support has provided access to care, including vision, dental and preventive services, screenings, and vaccinations to more than 25,000 individuals.
One Pint of Blood, Multiple Lives Saved: A story of gratitude and urgent need
Healthy Children, Healthy Homes: Empowering families dealing with pediatric asthma
From Crisis to Community: The Cara House's transformative impact on chronically homeless individuals
“Your donation helped keep my husband alive while he recovered from a kidney transplant. Our children will grow up with their daddy thanks to you.”
These words, penned by a grateful wife, capture the life-saving impact of a single blood donation.
Do you know that only 3% of eligible people donate blood in the United States? It’s no wonder we face a critical blood shortage in our hospitals.
Imagine a young mother battling leukemia, her life hanging in the balance, dependent on the generosity of strangers. Or a child injured in a car accident, needing blood to survive the night. These are not hypothetical scenarios; they are the daily realities of our nation’s hospitals.
In fact, according to the American Red Cross, someone needs blood and/or platelets every two seconds.
We are invested in helping with this urgent need for blood by supporting community blood banks in their efforts to recruit and retain donors. Our partnerships with the Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) in the Lehigh Valley and The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York are vital to sustaining these lifesaving services.
MKBC, serving 18 counties and 35 hospitals, faces a constant struggle to meet the overwhelming demand. Chief Operating Officer Rami Nemeh, explains, “We need 350 donations every single day just to keep up. Cancer patients rely on us heavily.”
Similarly, The Community Blood Bank of NWPA and WNY supports 16 hospitals and seven STAT MedEvac bases, requiring 800 weekly donations. Executive Director Deanna Rosenthal reflects on the impact of the pandemic, “Donation rates plummeted, and we’re working hard to engage younger generations in this life-saving mission.”
We support both blood banks’ annual donor appreciation events. These aren’t mere thank-you gatherings; they’re powerful recruitment tools, showcasing the ease of donation and sharing the deeply personal stories of recipients. Families attend, spreading awareness and creating a ripple effect of generosity.
Lina Barbieri, MKBC’s chief philanthropy officer, emphasizes the transformative impact of personal connection, “Once people see the direct impact their donation can have, they gain a new understanding of the critical need.” Barbieri adds, “If just 1% more of eligible people donated, the impact on the shortage would be immense.”
At the Community Blood Bank’s Donor Appreciation Day, their largest donation day, approximately 150 donors roll up their sleeves. MKBC’s appreciation series recognizes extraordinary donors, including 13 individuals who have each donated an astounding 100 gallons of blood. Their dedication exemplifies the incredible power of individual action.
We are proud to support these organizations as they thank existing donors, inspire the next generation of donors and work tirelessly to get more blood on the shelves for all in need.
The CDC reports over four million children aged 5–18 suffer from asthma, with a staggering 44% experiencing uncontrolled symptoms. This means missed school and work days, strained family finances, and constant worry that hangs heavy in the air. For families juggling work, appointments, and the emotional toll of managing a chronic illness, the burden can feel insurmountable.
In Delaware, Nemours Children’s Health recognized the critical need to address this crisis. In 2022 alone, they treated 3,577 Medicaid pediatric asthma patients, with over 400 requiring emergency room visits — some multiple times.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Nemours partnered with us to create a lifeline: a comprehensive, 12-month program designed to empower families and significantly improve their children's health.
Funded by a Highmark Delaware Blueprints for the Community grant, the “Nemours Children’s Health’s Joint Social Determinants of Health — Asthma Solution project,” launched in 2024. This free program tackles the problem head-on, addressing gaps in knowledge, resources, and supportive services. Families are identified through need and referrals, receiving a holistic approach to asthma management.
This isn’t just about medication. It’s about transforming homes into safe havens. Community health workers make in-person and phone visits, conducting detailed Pediatric Environmental Home Assessments to identify and eliminate asthma triggers. Families receive cleaning kits stocked with natural, affordable cleaning agents and learn sustainable cleaning practices. Crucially, the program provides access to HEPA vacuums, air purifiers, and mattress/pillow encasements — tools that directly combat invisible asthma irritants.
The impact is palpable. Hundreds of home visits have already taken place, empowering families with the knowledge and tools to control their children’s asthma. But the story doesn’t end there.
The success of the program has ignited a ripple effect of collaboration, both internally across Nemours Children’s primary care, specialty care, and school-based health programs and externally, attracting other community partners eager to join the fight.
“We didn’t realize how many organizations would be so interested in helping,” says Gina Hamilton, director, Care Coordination and Community Health Services at Nemours Children’s Health. “They see the value, the long-term impact — it’s not just about asthma; it’s about healthy kids, healthy families, and healthy communities.”
This program isn’t just providing relief; it’s building a future where every child can breathe freely, and every family can thrive.
Over half a million people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in January 2023 according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
In New York, the Bethesda House of Schenectady confronts this crisis daily, welcoming nearly 200 individuals through its doors each day, serving over 4,000 unique individuals annually. For over 30 years, Bethesda House has provided essential services, from meals and medical care to permanent supportive housing. But their commitment goes beyond shelter; it’s about building pathways to lasting independence and stability.
“We have always been on the cutting edge of preventing homelessness,” said Caroline Codd, development coordinator at the Bethesda House of Schenectady. “We have worked in this community for over 30 years, and we have a deep understanding of what this population needs. We believe housing is a basic human right and it’s at the forefront of the work that we do.”
Schenectady County’s only reentry housing program closed in 2017 due to budget cuts. In December 2023, Bethesda House opened Cara House, a new 42-bed permanent and emergency housing facility funded to address this gap in services.
Along with providing affordable housing, Cara House focuses on reentry, medical care, and education.
“We are helping people work through complex trauma and deep issues like grief,” said Codd. “We are using unique services like art and music to work through those traumas. This is optional for residents, but we have seen and heard the impact firsthand.”
Patricia (name changed), a resident at Cara House was incarcerated for 22 years, before being released on parole. She came to Bethesda House looking for help with housing, and when she heard Cara House was offering beds specifically for the reentry population, she immediately applied. She says having her own studio apartment after 22 years behind bars is a blessing.
She had been experiencing panic attacks at the quickened pace of the world around her and dreading her trips to her therapist and psychiatrist. Now, at Cara House, she has a team to help manage her schedule and make her appointments.
“The Highmark Blue Fund was our largest benefactor in helping us with our medical program,” said Codd. “This funding provided us with a fully staffed and equipped medical office. Before that we were working out of the church basement. We now have all the equipment you would traditionally find in a medical care office, and we can offer comprehensive services in-house.”
With the homeless population aging and many over 50, the need for medical care is great. The homeless population shows geriatric symptoms 20 years before the general population.
“This population often cannot get to a doctor on a timely basis,” said Codd. “With 90% of these individuals suffering from some kind of physical or mental chronic disability, it’s vital they have consistent access to care.”
Because of this medical program, patients are no longer waiting weeks or months to get an appointment, and they are building trust with healthcare providers.
Cara House stands as a testament to the power of comprehensive, compassionate care — transforming lives and strengthening the entire community. It’s a model for how to move beyond crisis response to create lasting solutions for chronic homelessness.
