Florida Blue Foundation Invests in Community Programs to Strengthen Food Security and Combat Chronic Conditions

As the nation observes Hunger Action Month in September, the Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue and part of the GuideWell family of companies, is awarding $3 million in grants supporting eight community-based food programs across the state to reduce the burden of chronic health conditions and increase access to healthy food in rural communities.

Why it matters: Food insecurity is one of the most significant social drivers of health in the country, contributing to increased risks of chronic diseases including obesity, heart disease, and certain types of cancers. In addition, higher food costs, recent funding cuts to local food banks, and other factors are driving increased demand for food aid.

By the numbers: 2.9 million Floridians lack access to healthy food-including 800,000 children.

What they're saying:

"Food is the foundation of health, and yet, far too many individuals and families in Florida struggle to access the nutritious food they need," said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. "By partnering with organizations on the front lines of this issue, we are working together to extend their reach, deepen their impact, and increase access to the healthy foods families need to thrive."

The eight Florida nonprofit organizations receiving grants are:

• AdventHealth Foundation (Orange County) - The Nourish Our Neighbors program uses AI-powered technology to identify high-risk seniors with heart failure issues and provides them with heart-healthy meals and dietician-led education to improve nutrition, reduce hospital readmissions, and promote sustainable healthy eating habits.
• Grace Medical Home (Orange County) - Through a partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine, the Planting Seeds of Health program will deliver health screenings, nutrition education, and personalized dietary guidance to tackle food insecurity and food-related chronic diseases.
• Palm Beach County Food Bank (Palm Beach County) - The Palm Beach County Food Bank's Food and Nutrition Program is a collaborative effort with the Florida Department of Health and PBC Community Services Department to provide individuals with chronic health conditions with access to nutritious food, regular nutrition education, and health screenings, with the goal of improving their health outcomes and promoting healthy living choices.
• Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (Collier County) - The Nutrition Prescription Project will provide family food packs, nutrition education, and on-site health screenings from Community Health Workers.
• Urban Health Partnerships Incorporated (Miami-Dade County) - The Cultivating Wellness program will provide meals, screenings, and care navigation at community spaces such as grocery stores, gardens, parks, and Food as Medicine outreach hubs.
• Second Harvest of the Big Bend (Leon County) - The FARMacy program is a mobile grocery store concept designed to bridge the rural food gap by delivering fresh, nutritious groceries to 15 rural counties across North Florida.
• Feeding the Gulf Coast (Santa Rosa County) - The Produce Drops program delivers single-day mass distributions of fresh produce directly to under-resourced communities.
• YMCA of Southwest Florida Inc. (Sarasota County) - Nourishing Communities provides access to nutritious food, nutrition education, and physical activity for individuals and families in Desoto, Hendry, and Glade Counties.

The big picture: The latest investments build upon the Florida Blue Foundation's multi-year initiative around local food-security solutions, which includes strengthening food infrastructure and systems across Florida; promoting direct service for families for healthy food access; and working with partner organizations throughout the state.

• In addition to philanthropic giving, Florida Blue team members volunteer in the communities where they live with local food pantries, serving meals, and participating in food distribution events.

Impact since 2020:

• $19 million awarded in grants to organizations to strengthen food security in Florida.
• $1.5 million invested in college campus food pantries, including at Broward College, Florida State College at Jacksonville in partnership with Edward Waters University, Polk State College, and Valencia College.
• 200 million meals provided through food security grants.

To learn more about the Florida Blue Foundation's impact across the state, read GuideWell's latest Impact Report.

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About Florida Blue Foundation

Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions, and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in communities across the state. An average of 10 million Floridians receive services each year as a result of its community investments. Founded in 2001, Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improving health by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit https://www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com.

About Florida Blue

Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, Florida Blue is the leading health insurer in Florida, and part of GuideWell, a not-for-profit health solutions company. Florida Blue offers a range of health plans and personalized care programs for individuals, families, businesses of all sizes, and Medicare beneficiaries. For over 80 years, the organization has been member centric and committed to making health care as accessible and affordable as possible. Serving more than six million members across all 67 Florida counties, Florida Blue has more than 8,000 employees and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., is owned by its policyholders, and is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

For additional information visit https://www.FloridaBlue.com. For the latest news and content, visit the Florida Blue Newsroom, and follow Florida Blue on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @Florida.Blue; and X (formerly Twitter) @FLBlue.