RI nonprofits share in Point32Health Foundation grants for equity in aging, social and racial justice

Investments advance equity in aging and support social and racial justice

The Point32Health Foundation has awarded 20 grants totaling more than $2 million to nonprofit organizations advancing equity in aging and social and racial justice initiatives.

“Communities with fewer resources are more likely to experience significant health disparities,” said Greg Shell, chair of the Point32Health Foundation board of directors and partner at Goldman Sachs. “These negative impacts accumulate over time, creating additional challenges for older adults who have faced systemic inequities throughout their lives.”

The new Foundation investments support public policy and system changes to eliminate barriers, promote inclusion and support community-centered solutions.

“These grants are informed by conversations with community organizations because they are in the best position to understand community assets and the underlying factors that affect health,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Point32Health Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan. “This kind of engagement and collaboration is critical to achieving health equity.”

In 2023, the Point32Health Foundation gave more than $8 million in grants to 165 not-for-profit community organizations across the five states it serves.

The new grants go to:

Rhode Island ($275,000)      

DARE: Direct Action For Rights & Equality (Statewide, Rhode Island)
$150,000 | Two years
Grow and sustain a strong and diverse membership to identify solutions to community problems, collaborate with community leaders, and advocate to advance policy priorities, including probation reform, that disproportionately impact people of color.

NAMI Rhode Island (Statewide, Rhode Island)

$100,000 | One year

Support NAMI R.I. education programs, resources and advocacy efforts to ensure the rights and dignity of people, and support to all whose lives are affected by mental illness

Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP) (Statewide, Rhode Island)
$25,000 | One year
Support policy priorities, strategic planning and capacity of the organization to advocate for disability rights, inclusion and accessibility.

Connecticut ($215,000) 

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (Fairfield County, Connecticut)
$100,000 | Two years
Support for Community Equity Incubator, a part of the Equity Lab, that builds capacity of diverse community leaders and residents through coaching, organizational development and a peer-support network.

Haven’s Harvest (New Haven, Connecticut)
$25,000 | One year
Support for food recovery efforts across the region.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven (Greater New Haven, Connecticut)
$65,000 | One year
Support for food pantry, nutritional center and care navigator program.

New Britain Roots (New Britain, Connecticut)
$25,000 | One year
Support for mobile farmers’ market operations and equitable access to Healthy food.

A member of Point32Health’s family of companies, CarePartners of Connecticut is a joint venture between Tufts Health Plan and Hartford HealthCare, a fully integrated Connecticut health system. CarePartners of Connecticut offers Medicare Advantage health plans in Connecticut.

Maine ($230,000)   

Elder Abuse Institute of Maine (Statewide, Maine)
$90,000 | Two years
Design, deliver and evaluate person-centered elder abuse prevention, detection and intervention programs

Maine Council on Aging (Statewide, Maine)
$50,000 | One year
Expand the Leadership Exchange on Ageism.

Wabanaki REACH (Reconciliation, Engagement, Advocacy, Change, and Healing)  (Wabanaki Territory, Maine)
$90,000 | Three years
Support the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices in Wabanaki and Maine communities.

Massachusetts ($1,036,500)     

Carroll Center for the Blind (Statewide, Massachusetts)
$287,500 | Three years
Improve accessibility and inclusion for older adults experiencing vision loss and enhance Age with Independence program.

Dismas House (Worcester County, Massachusetts)
$70,000 | Two years 
Engage community leaders who are older adults and former offenders in community organizing efforts for affordable housing and supportive reentry services and a collaborative compassionate release initiative.

Elder Health Care Disparities Coalition (Roxbury, Massachusetts)
$44,000 | One year
Support Elder Connect – Loneliness Reduction and Digital Literacy Intervention program that uses technology training and intergenerational activities for increased social engagement and improved access to telehealth for older people of color.

Health Care For All (Statewide, Massachusetts)
$120,000 | Three years
Support for Health Ambassadors for Older Adults initiative that improves health care access and connection to community-based supports by addressing social determinants in communities of color and informing policies and systems that impact older people.

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (Mattapan, Massachusetts)

$100,000 | Three years
Support older residents through the Edgewater Neighborhood Association to improve outdoor community space, increase social connections, access to Healthy food and physical activity in Mattapan. 

NAMI Massachusetts (Statewide, Massachusetts)
$100,000 | One year
Support for programs that improve the quality of life for people living with mental health conditions, their families and their caregivers.

Three Sisters Garden Project (Essex County, Massachusetts)

$30,000 | One year

Increase access to healthy, culturally relevant food for people with lower incomes in Essex County.

Way Finders (Holyoke and Springfield, Massachusetts)

$285,000 | Three years
Through the Chestnut Community Alliance and Flexing Civic Muscle Program, advance older adult resident-led advocacy and community organizing focused on digital equity, housing justice and other community priorities in Springfield and Holyoke. Activities offered in English and Spanish.

New Hampshire ($270,000)     

New Hampshire Hunger Solutions (Statewide, New Hampshire)$270,000 | Three yearsEnroll more older adults in federal nutrition programs by advancing the Elderly Simplified Application Project and increasing awareness of hunger and community solutions in N.H. Advocate, support and build food access coalitions to address hunger at the state, local and national levels.

National ($40,000)

Grantmakers In Aging (National)
$40,000 | One year
Invest in Fund for Older Americans Act Reauthorization (OAA) 2024 to promote bipartisan solutions and increased funding to advance equity, address disparities in aging, and better align public and private resources.

To learn more, visit https://www.point32healthfoundation.org/

About Point32Health Foundation
Building on values of service and giving, Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone. Point32Health Foundation is the result of the combination of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Tufts Health Plan Foundation and advances equity-focused solutions in healthy aging, access to healthy food and behavioral health in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Beginning in 2025, our focus will be equity in aging. Follow us on Facebook.