The Highmark Bright Blue Futures Awards celebrate exceptional nonprofit organizations moving the needle on health equity across Pennsylvania, Delaware, western and northeastern New York, and West Virginia. This awards program, made possible by the Highmark Foundation, recognizes those working to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best health — a vision aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of health equity. The awards are not merely accolades; they represent our commitment to a future where health is accessible and equitable for all. By celebrating these outstanding organizations, we aim to inspire further action, collaboration, and innovation in the pursuit of healthier communities. In addition to celebrating our awardees, this year we brought together nearly 100 past and current award winners and community leaders for a Thought Leadership Forum, creating a dynamic space for connection, knowledge sharing, and the forging of new partnerships dedicated to advancing health equity.
The following profiles highlight the five Signature Awardees:
Buffalo Urban League is working to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible as they empower African American, other minorities, and disadvantaged individuals.
Westside Family Healthcare is tackling health equity head-on, focusing on the communities that need it most.
Center for Population Health has a vision to empower the community where all people have access to equitable health opportunities in their service area
Maternity Care Coalition (MMC) has been dedicated to improving maternal and child health and early care and education throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware for over four decades.
Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank fulfills the need for a reliable supply of safe and ethically sourced donor milk for medically fragile infants. They are committed to overcoming economic, social, and other obstacles to health and health care for the families they serve.
The spotlight shone brightly on the Rising Star awardees; a constellation of organizations dedicated to improving lives across the Northeast. In the realm of nourishment and opportunity, South End Children’s Cafe in Albany, New York, and Penn State Health in central Pennsylvania, were celebrated for their tireless efforts to educate communities about nutrition, bolster food security, and ensure everyone has access to healthy meals.
Then came the heroes championing mothers, babies, and families. Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Foundation, in eastern Pennsylvania, worked tirelessly to guarantee that every mother and child received the best possible medical care. Across the region, Catholic Charities in Delaware battled health disparities, striving to reduce infant mortality rates. In Pittsburgh, the Latino Community Center’s community health workers formed a vital network of support for new parents, guiding them through the challenges of raising healthy and happy babies. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania CASA Association worked to strengthen the safety net for vulnerable children, improving access to advocacy, mental health services, and overall well-being within the child welfare system.
Finally, the awards recognized organizations dedicated to ensuring quality of and access to health care. The Hudson Headwaters Health Network in Albany, New York, was lauded for its commitment to improving patient outcomes through better quality measures. The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health tackled the critical issue of access to dental care for children. In western New York, the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation brought life-saving lung cancer screenings to those who needed them most. And in West Virginia, the West Virginia Health Right worked tirelessly to address the social determinants of health, promoting health equity for all.
Each Rising Star, in its own unique way, illuminated the path towards a healthier, more equitable future.
