Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Giving Guide 2019 9 I n 2008, Tufts Health Plan endowed Tufts Health Plan Foundation to support com- munity organizations and improve the health and wellness of the diverse commu- nities it serves. The Foundation has given more than $34 million to nonprofits in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island since then, successfully fulfilling its mission. According to Nora Moreno Cargie, president, Tufts Health Plan Foundation, and vice president, Corporate Citizenship, Tufts Health Plan, a company is strong when the community in which it works, lives and plays is strong. With a vision focused on honoring and supporting older people, the Foundation invests in organizations work - ing to make their communities great places to grow up and grow old. Listening is the key to effective investment in programs that serve older people, according to Moreno Cargie. "Older people are the fastest growing segment in the country," she said. "When you think about healthy aging, what that looks like in Worcester is different from Boston." The Foundation works with organizations in communities across the region to listen and to learn what older people need. "It's important to not create an environ - ment where older people are 'other.' We want to ensure that we are on track and hearing what community wants." The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report (accessible online at www.healthy- agingdatareports.org) is another tool to help identify community strengths and needs. This report, funded by the Foundation, offers detailed community profiles for every Commonwealth city and town, she added. The Foundation has 46 active grants in Massachusetts totaling $4.37 million. The Worcester area has received more than $343,000 in recent years. Bridges Together in Sudbury received a three-year grant in 2016 of $144,657 to expand an intergenera - tional program. A three-year $103,281 grant to Growing Places in Leominster supports the devel- opment of a hub-and-spoke food distribution model to increase access to healthy food in the Winchendon area. A $34,991 grant to Horace Mann Educational Associates in Franklin supports the creation of a new electronic information system to improve collaboration among community organizations and health care providers serving older people with intel - lectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation's Momentum Fund awards smaller grants to community-led ini- tiatives. Jewish Family Service of Metrowest will use its $10,000 mini-grant to recruit, train and develop a network of volunteers to assist older LGBT+ people manage their health. While the Foundation focuses on older people, Tufts Health Plan's Corporate Citizenship program focuses on the social determinants of health. During a recent back-to-school drive, employees donated supplies valued at more than $12,000. Tufts Health Plan also sponsors the diaper pantry and community baby showers for low-in - come families at Friendly House. Tufts Health Plan's Match Program has donated more than $45,500 to Worcester area organizations since 2017. "We match up to $500 of what an employee gives and on Giving Tuesday we matched two-for-one," Moreno Cargie said. Tufts Health Plan employees also embrace a spirit of giving. Employees set a new company record during Volunteer Day 2019; more than 1,000 volunteered at more than 40 locations in four states. "With support from our CEO Tom Croswell and other senior leaders, our teams went out and performed nearly 3,000 hours of volun - teer service in the community in just one day," Moreno Cargie said. Locally, Tufts Health Plan employees have volunteered at Catholic Charities, Centro, Easter Seals, Friendly House Neighborhood Center, the Worcester County Food Bank, Worcester Pride and 2Life Communities in Framingham. The Tufts Health Plan Foundation has just begun to fulfill its vision. Going for - ward, the Foundation intends to continue its emphasis on good listening skills, result- ing in responsive and relevant action that enhances the aging process and creates healthy communities for our fastest growing demographic. n TUFTS HEALTH PLAN FOUNDATION Listening Leads to Action Sunday, October 20 OR Sunday, November 3 WorcesterAcademy.org/OpenHouse countrybank.com Country Bank is honored to support the communities that support us, continuing our proud history of involvement in the towns and cities that we serve. O u r bu s i n e ss GIVING BACK I S T H E B E S T W A Y F O R W A R D . We think 1,100 V O L U N T E E R H O U R S 450 L O C A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N S $1M D O N A T E D I N 2 0 1 8 M E M B E R F D I C | M E M B E R D I F P L A Y S C A P E B U I L D | J U L Y 2 0 1 9

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