21 organizations to receive first $500,000 of $1 million committed by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation

March 2020|Press releases

Food access most pressing need in face of coronavirus

WATERTOWN, MA – Tufts Health Plan Foundation has identified the first 21 organizations to receive support from the $1 million it has committed to community efforts on behalf of older people affected by coronavirus in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

“This first wave of funding addresses one of the most pressing concerns facing older people—food insecurity,” said Tom Croswell, Tufts Health Plan president and CEO. “These organizations are working on the front lines to meet critical needs and are well-positioned to respond to emerging priorities. Our communities depend on them, now more than ever.”

The organizations include area agencies on aging that provide meals and other support services to older people, food banks, and community organizations that are serving as hubs for collaborative regional responses. They include:

Massachusetts $150,000

  • The Boston Foundation, COVID-19 Response Fund: $25,000
  • The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: $25,000
  • The Greater Boston Food Bank: $50,000
  • Union Capital Boston, COVID-19 Fund: $15,000
  • Watertown Community Foundation, Community Resilience Fund: $ 5,000
  • Watertown Food Pantry (via Watertown Council on Aging) $ 5,000
  • Worcester County Food Bank: $25,000

Rhode Island $125,000

  • Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island: $25,000
  • Rhode Island Community Food Bank: $50,000
  • United Way of Rhode Island, Rhode Island COVID-19 Response Fund: $50,000

New Hampshire $110,000

  • Granite United Way, COVID-19 Relief Fund: $15,000
  • Monadnock United Way, COVID-19 Relief Fund: $15,000
  • The New Hampshire Food Bank: $50,000
  • United Way of Greater Nashua, COVID-19 Emergent Needs Response Fund: $15,000
  • United Way of the Greater Seacoast, COVID-19 Family Fund: $15,000

Connecticut $100,000

  • Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut: $10,000
  • Connecticut Food Bank: $50,000
  • North Central Area Agency on Aging: $10,000
  • Senior Resources Agency on Aging: $10,000
  • Southwestern CT Agency on Aging and Independent Living: $10,000
  • Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging: $10,000

“Communities and leaders are uniting to face this challenge,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Tufts Health Plan. “We are reminded just how connected we all are—and how important it is to take care of every generation.”

Beyond the additional funding for community organizations, employee donations to nonprofit organizations affected by COVID-19 will be matched two-for-one by Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

UPDATE November 19, 2020: Nonprofits Receive $900,000 in Funding from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to Address COVID-19 Pandemic

UPDATE June 29, 2020: Tufts Health Plan Foundation Board Approves Additional Funding for Organizations Responding to Coronavirus: $900,000 will Support Recovery and Rebuilding in Communities across the Region

UPDATE May 19, 2020: List of 49 Organizations Receiving Funding to Address Coronavirus

UPDATE May 19, 2020: Tufts Health Plan Foundation Announces Third Wave of Funding to Address Coronavirus Impact: $170,000 Supports 10 Community Organizations Responding to Inequities in Communities

UPDATE April 14, 2020: Tufts Health Plan Foundation Announces Second Wave of Funding to Address Coronavirus Impact: Accelerates Payments to Current Grantees to Ease Financial Pressure

PREVIOUS March 19, 2020: Tufts Health Plan Foundation Commits $1 Million to Address COVID-19