Excellus is accepting applications for nonprofit community health awards

DeWITT, N.Y. — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is calling on nonprofit organizations to apply for its community health awards that will provide a total of $87,000 to help fund health and wellness programs in upstate New York.

The community health awards are available to nonprofits in the health insurer’s 31-county upstate New York region, according to a news release Excellus issued Tuesday.

Organizations can apply for awards of up to $4,000 each, according to Excellus, Central New York’s largest health insurer.

Nonprofits that win can use their grant for programs that have “clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population.”

Programs that improve the health status of the community, reduce the incidence of specific diseases, promote health education, and further overall wellness are eligible for awards.

The application deadline is Feb. 5. Excellus said it won’t consider applications submitted after that date.

Applications and additional information are available online by clicking here.

Nonprofits can also email Community.Health.Awards.CNY@Excellus.com. Organizations in Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, or Tompkins counties are asked to email the completed application to Community.Health.Awards.CNY@ Excellus.com.

The health insurer will announce the award recipients in March.

Excellus’ 31-county region encompasses Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates counties.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com