Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Invests in Community Health Equity Across Upstate New York

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced the recipients of its 2026 Health Equity Innovation Awards, an annual funding opportunity that supports nonprofit organizations working to eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes across upstate New York. The awards recognize organizations that are driving meaningful progress through innovative, community‑centered solutions designed to meet the unique needs of the people they serve.

This year, twenty-six nonprofit organizations across the Rochester, Central New York/Southern Tier, and Utica/North Country regions were selected from a competitive pool of nearly 300 applicants. The funded proposals were chosen based on their strong potential for measurable impact, sustainability, and alignment with a shared commitment to building healthier, more equitable communities.

Funding priorities in each region were informed by localized community needs assessments, which helped identify the most urgent health challenges and disparities affecting residents. Across upstate New York, community organizations continue to report increasing demand for essential services, driven by rising costs, limited access to care, and persistent inequities that affect where people live, work, and age.

“The need in our communities is growing, and meaningful progress requires solutions that are grounded in local experience and trust,” said Mark Muthumbi, CNY/Southern Tier Regional President, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “As your local, nonprofit health plan, we’re investing in organizations that understand their communities best and are creating real, lasting change that helps people live healthier lives.”

The 2026 Health Equity Innovation Awards will support a wide range of initiatives, including:

• Community-centered mental health and wellness programs
• Community-based chronic disease prevention and education
• Maternal and child health support services
• Food access and nutrition initiatives

These awards reflect Excellus BCBS’s ongoing commitment to advancing community health by investing in programs that promote equity, expand access to care, and strengthen the organizations working on the front lines of community wellbeing.

Award recipients and their funded programs are outlined below.

Central New York (CNY)

Onondaga Community College Foundation
Helps young children build early reading skills by bringing books and reading activities into neighborhood barbershops. These familiar spaces help kids feel comfortable while learning to read and build confidence.

Outpatient & Peer Recovery Services – C.H.A.D.
Supports people in recovery from substance use by adding trained peer supporters, people who have been through recovery themselves—into outpatient care. These peers help with appointments, staying on track with treatment, and finding needed support.

Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA)
Works to make healthy food easier to get in local neighborhoods. The program funds community led ideas, supports local leaders, and helps people access foods that reflect their culture and preferences.

The Upstate Foundation (Joslin Diabetes Center)
Helps people with diabetes get better care by sharing data from devices like glucose monitors directly with their doctors. This helps care teams respond faster and adjust treatment when needed.

WIC on Wheels (CAPCO)
Brings WIC services straight to families using a mobile van. Families can receive nutrition support, health screenings, and education without needing to travel far—especially helpful for rural areas.

YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County
Reduces chronic disease disparities by combining mobile food access with evidence‑based prevention programs and health navigation in underserved rural communities.

Southern Tier

AIM Independent Living Center
Offers walk-in help for people experiencing homelessness. Services include support with housing, benefits, jobs, and access to basic needs in one place.

Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference
Supports children and families through after school programs that include counseling, tutoring, meals, and transportation. The goal is to help families stay stable and children thrive.

Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Helps older adults in rural areas who feel lonely or depressed. The program offers mental health coaching and improves access to behavioral health services.

Samaritan Counseling Center
Uses data‑driven tools to identify and reduce behavioral health inequities through targeted interventions, equity dashboards, and system‑level accountability.

United Health Services Foundation
Supports maternal and infant health by providing new parents with essential supplies, education, and expanded breastfeeding and early‑care resources.

United Way of Broome County
Helps people access basic hygiene items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and menstrual products by distributing supplies through local partners.   

           
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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company's mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 4,200 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.