Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation gives $3 million to Community Health Centers in Mass., N.H., Maine and Conn.

(Wellesley, MA) – Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation today announced it will give $3 million to select Community Health Centers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut to support equity and equality in accessing health care, and to address health disparities in black and brown communities and vulnerable populations. This is part of Harvard Pilgrim’s $38 million commitment announced last week, aimed at providing financial relief to employer groups, members, and independent primary care physicians in its service area due to the pandemic.

“Now more than ever, Harvard Pilgrim is committed to equal access to quality health care for everyone – particularly those in black and brown communities who have been tragically and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said Michael Carson, president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and chair of the Foundation’s board of directors. “In Massachusetts, for example, our support will enhance the capacity of these centers to provide efficient and timely telehealth services to patients for both physical and mental health needs. Community Health Centers often do not have the tools or resources to offer care through technology – we believe that all communities deserve this kind of access and we are doing something about it.”

With this support to Community Health Centers, Harvard Pilgrim Foundation has committed close to $7 million in COVID-19 relief grants since the pandemic began.

“These funds to Community Health Centers across the region are a strong complement to the nearly $4 million the Foundation has already contributed to local and regional nonprofits, food organizations, and meal delivery partnerships in response to COVID-19,” said Karen Voci, president of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. “Keeping these vital community resources strong is essential to public health, especially in underserved urban and rural areas.”

Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s support includes:

Connecticut Community Health Centers — $600,000

• Fair Haven Community Health Care, New Haven — $150,000
• First Choice Health Centers, E. Hartford — $150,000
• Southwest Community Health Center, Bridgeport — $300,000

Massachusetts Community Health Centers — $1,000,000

Funding will support Community Care Cooperative’s (C3) campaign to enhance telehealth capacity and meet telehealth demand in community health centers statewide in response to COVID-19.

The 30 community health centers are:

• Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Inc.
• Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, Inc.
• Caring Health Center in Springfield
• Charles River Community Health, Inc. in Boston
• Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Inc. in Mashpee
• Community Health Center of Franklin County, Inc. in Greenfield
• Community Health Connections, Inc. in Leominster
• Community Health Programs, Inc. in Great Barrington
• The Dimock Center in Roxbury
• Duffy Health Center, Inc. in Hyannis
• East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
• Edward M. Kennedy CHC, Inc. in Worcester
• Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.
• Family HealthCare Center at SSTAR in Fall River
• Fenway Community Health Center, Inc. in Boston
• Greater New Bedford Community Health Center
• Harbor Health Services in Boston, Plymouth + Provincetown
• Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center in Dorchester
• HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc. in Fall River
• Health Services for the Homeless in Springfield
• Hilltown Community Health Center, Inc. in Worthington
• Holyoke Health Center, Inc.
• Island Health Inc in Edgartown
• Lowell Community Health Center
• Lynn Community Health Center, Inc.
• North End Waterfront Health in Boston
• North Shore Community Health, Inc. in Salem
• Outer Cape Health Services, Inc. in Provincetown
• South End Community Health Center in Boston
• Uphams Corner Health Center in Dorchester

Maine Community Health Centers — $700,000

• B Street Health Center/St Mary’s, Lewiston — $233,000
• Greater Portland Health — $233,000
• Penobscot Community Health Center, Bangor — $233,000

New Hampshire Community Health Centers — $700,000

• Amoskeag Health Center, Manchester — $233,000
• Coos County Health Center, Berlin — $233,000
• Harbor Homes Health Center, Nashua — $233,000

For more information, visit https://www.harvardpilgrim.org/public/about-us/our-foundation/newsroom

About The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
Created in 1980, The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation supports Harvard Pilgrim’s mission to improve the quality and value of health care for the people and communities we serve. The Harvard Pilgrim Foundation provides the tools, training and leadership to help build healthy communities throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. In 2019, the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation awarded nearly $2.9 million in grants to 990 nonprofit organizations in the region. Since its inception in 1980, the Foundation has awarded $155 million in funds and resources throughout the four states. For more information, please visit www.harvardpilgrim.org/foundation.