Dear Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Community,
We hope you are all well and safe as together we navigate the impact of COVID-19 on our country and the world. As of March 16th, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care employees, including the Foundation team, are working remotely until further notice. We want to reassure you that we are committed to supporting access to fresh, healthy food for low-income families and older adults across the region as well as encouraging safe service and giving in our communities.
Today we announced we will give more than $3 million for COVID-19 relief efforts by supporting community and nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Here are a few initiatives we are undertaking:
COVID-19 Assistance Fund. Two expedited grant programs, totaling $1.5 million. A total of $500,000 will be awarded to local nonprofit organizations that assist older adults in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire impacted by COVID-19. A total of $1 million will be awarded to local nonprofit community service organizations helping people respond to the impact of COVID-19 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. Grants are available up to $10,000. Organizations can review the easy-to-apply grant guidelines here:
- Grants for Nonprofits Serving Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic >>
- Grants for Nonprofit Community Service Organizations Serving Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic >>
Regional Market Grants. A total of $1 million in grants is being awarded to nonprofits in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, additional funds are being awarded to all the Foundation’s Healthy Food Fund partners totaling $340,000. Read press release.
Community Spirit Mini Grants. Our mini-grant program, which enables every Harvard Pilgrim Health Care employee to award $500 annually to the charity of their choice, has been extended so that our colleagues can support local non-profits who are on the front lines of the crisis, meeting specific community needs related to COVID-19.
Employee Needs Fund. The Foundation is supporting this fund available to all Harvard Pilgrim Health Care employees and their families who may be experiencing financial hardship. The fund now totals $100,000.
As part of our initial $3 million distribution of funds, we have committed dedicated resources to community-focused initiatives including the engagement of select restaurants throughout the region to provide and deliver take-out meals to families in need and helping to put people back to work. Additionally, these resources will assist communities in facilitating access to COVID-19 testing. Details will be shared on these initiatives in the near future.
Many thanks to all of you who are continuing to find ways to help and to get healthy food and supplies to people who need it most. You are inspiring. We are facing difficult and uncertain times ahead and coming together as a community can lift us all up.
Please take care of yourselves and your families.
Thank you and be well,
Karen and the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation team
RESOURCES
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Team Contact Information
- Harvard Pilgrim continues to monitor the situation and is working to provide timely and relevant COVID-19 information at www.harvardpilgrim.org/coronavirus
- Get the latest public health information from CDC: COVID-19 Information
- Get the latest research information from NIH: COVID-19 Information