Humana Foundation Selects New Orleans for 2015 Humana Communities Benefit $350,000 Charitable Grant Program

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Local nonprofits focused on addressing diabetes and congestive heart failure have a shot at winning $350,000 in grant funding to help bolster their efforts, the Humana Foundation recently announced.

According to the Humana Foundation, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working to lower barriers to health “whose specific focus or overall efforts address diabetes and/or congestive heart failure – are encouraged to apply for the multi-year grant.”

“Humana’s goal is to improve the health of the communities we serve by making it easy for people to achieve their best health, and preventing diabetes and congestive heart failure is critical to that mission,” said Virginia Kelly Judd, executive director of the Humana Foundation.

The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., has selected New Orleans as one of its 2015 communities for the company’s Humana Communities Benefit program. The other two communities chosen for this year’s program are Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Knoxville, Tenn.

Last year, the program relaunched awarding nonprofits in Tampa Bay, Chicago and San Antonio a total of $350,000 each over a three-year period.

Each recipient chosen for the grant receives $200,000 the first year; $100,000 the second year; and $50,000 the third year.

Funding will be used to create new programs or enhance ongoing activities that have positive, transformational impacts on the organization and the community. “These grants are intended to help close the gap between people and care, leading to improved health and well-being for the community,” said Kelly Judd.

“Humana and the Humana Foundation carefully considered the cities where we wanted to offer the Humana Communities Benefit program this year. We look forward to identifying outstanding nonprofit partners that are helping to reduce the impact of low health literacy, poor health behaviors, and lack of access to services and support,” said Kelly Judd.

Since the Humana Communities Benefit charitable giving program was introduced in 2003, the Humana Foundation has awarded nearly $9 million to nonprofits in 12 communities nationwide. The deadline to apply for the grant is May 29. For more information about the application process or to review the Request for Proposals, visit Humana.com/HCB.