Highmark Inc.'s subsidiaries provide more than $1.1 million for education in Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH (Aug. 14, 2017) — Students from across the Commonwealth will benefit from $1,157,778 in grants awarded by Highmark Inc. subsidiaries through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs.

Highmark subsidiaries that fund the grants through the EITC and OSTC programs are Davis Vision, Highmark Casualty Insurance Company and HM Health Insurance Company. A total of 67 organizations will benefit from this year's grants.

The breakdown of Highmark companies' $1.1 million in grants was $150,000 for educational improvement, $526,666 for scholarship programs, $150,000 for Pennsylvania's Opportunity Scholarship Organizations and $331,112 for pre-K programming.

The EITC and OSTC programs are available to Pennsylvania businesses paying any one of six specific state taxes and applying for participation to the program's administrator, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Highmark companies have provided nearly $18 million dollars to support education through the EITC and OSTC programs since 2006.

All Highmark companies share a deep commitment to improving the health and wellness of the communities where we do business,” said Dan Onorato, executive vice president, Highmark Health. “Education is a vital component of a strong, healthy community. By continuing to participate in Pennsylvania's EITC and OSTC programs, Highmark companies are funding educational organizations that are creating innovative programs that will positively impact the lives of children across the region."

Highmark and its subsidiaries paid $50 million in Pennsylvania taxes in 2016, including $14 million in county and municipal taxes.