Excellus offers $85K for nonprofit health and wellness program awards

DeWITT, N.Y. — Regional nonprofit organizations can apply for awards of up to $4,000 each from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) to help pay for health and wellness programs.

Rochester–based Excellus BCBS, the largest health insurer in Central New York, has made a total of $85,000 available for the community health awards.

Organizations in Excellus’ 31-county Upstate region can use the award for programs “that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population,” according to an Excellus news release.

The health insurer will consider programs that improve the health status of the community, reduce the incidence of specific diseases, and promote health education and overall wellness.

“The company’s community health awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” Dr. Arthur Vercillo, regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, said in the news release. “These awards complement our existing grants and sponsorships with agencies that work to enhance quality of life, including health status, in upstate New York.”

Applications and additional information are available online at
www.excellusbcbs.com/wps/wcm/connect/be9377e9-bde9-43d0-
ba46-807e3e9a612c/CommunityAwardsAppInteractive1.8.2015+
Blue+Regions.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

Excellus asks organizations in Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Tompkins counties to email the completed application to Community.Health.Awards.CNY@ Excellus.com

The deadline to submit an application to be considered for an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Award is Feb. 9.

Excellus BCBS will announce the awards in March, the organization said.