Fallon Health awards $200,000 to community-based organizations in Massachusetts through grants, funds

Worcester, Mass., December 23, 2019―Fallon Health, a mission-focused, community-based not-for-profit health care services organization, today announced $100,000 worth of grants will be going to 10 community-based organizations addressing health care barriers in underserved communities from Lowell to Worcester to the Berkshires.

Additionally, Fallon announced it provided $100,000 to community partners through its Hunger Relief Initiative.

The grants were provided through Fallon Health’s Community Benefits Grants Program. As a Massachusetts’ non-profit Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Fallon Health is committed to providing support to address unmet health needs and improving the health of disadvantaged populations through its grant program. Grant recipients were selected based on their ability to achieve positive health outcomes in two critical focus areas: senior health initiatives that support older adults living independently or provide access to care, behavioral health resources, or food and utilities; and health initiatives supporting wrap-around services and resources for children and youth.

Organizations selected for their senior health initiatives:

  • Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance for its Elder Home Repair program, which helps older adults remain safely in their home and community independently and allows them to thrive and age in place.
  • Merrimack Valley Food Bank for its Mobile Pantry Program, a home grocery delivery service helping older, disabled Greater Lowell residents.  
  • Regional Environmental Council for its Urban Garden Resources of Worcester (UGROW) program, which enables community members in Worcester to grow their own fruits and vegetables in public underused spaces. 
  • Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires to assist seniors with social determinants of health, including food security, assistance with heating costs and weatherization, housing and transportation.

Organizations selected for their child and youth health initiatives:

  • Berkshire Health Systems’ Operation Better Start for its Berkshire Healthy Students Program to increase knowledge of healthy eating, physical activity and parent/community engagement. 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Worcester for its Family Support Program, which provides counseling for children and families, referrals, service plans and case management. 
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell to provide community-based enrichment and educational activities for girls in grades K-12 through its Stepping Stones Program. 
  • Girls Inc. of Worcester for its After School and Summer Camp Program to serve the “whole girl” in safe, gender-specific environments. 
  • Lowell Community Health Center for its Teen BLOCK programs, which provide vulnerable teens with wrap-around aids to build confidence and self-esteem. 
  • Pernet Family Health Service for its Maternal Child Nursing Program, which serves women and children the greater Worcester area by linking them to appropriate medical care and providing education and support.

“Through our Community Benefits Grants Program, Fallon Health has distributed more than $1.5 million to local organizations with initiatives that address health care barriers. Our partners play a vital role in helping people of all ages, income levels and health statuses to achieve their health goals. We’re proud to work with so many wonderful organizations to extend that reach and help us fulfill our mission of making our communities healthy,” said Richard Burke, President and CEO of Fallon Health.  

Community organizations throughout Massachusetts also benefit from funding to tackle food insecurity. The recipients of the Fallon’s Hunger Relief Initiative address hunger in a variety of ways including community gardens, school pantries, church pantries and mobile farmer’s markets.  

“Making sure that communities across Massachusetts have access to a variety of foods is important to our mission at Fallon Health,” said Kimberly Salmon, Director of Community Engagement at Fallon Health. “We take our commitment to another level by personally distributing the funds to hunger relief organizations, including food kitchens. And in many cases, our employees can be found donating their time to help build or restock the pantries we support.”

Melissa Randall
Corporate Communications Manager, Fallon Health
508-368-9345

About Fallon Health
Founded in 1977, Fallon Health is a leading health care services organization that supports the diverse and changing needs of those we serve. In addition to offering innovative health insurance solutions and a variety of Medicaid and Medicare products, we excel in creating unique health care programs and services that provide coordinated, integrated care for seniors and individuals with complex health needs. Fallon has consistently ranked among the nation’s top health plans and is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products.