Florida Blue Foundation

Address: 4800 Deerwood Campus Parkway, DC202, Jacksonville, FL 32246
Phone: 904.905.6803
Web: www.floridabluefoundation.com
Email: susan.towler@bcbsfl.com

Florida Blue, the state’s local Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, established The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida in 2001, to improve access to health-related services for the uninsured and underserved. Over the past 20 years the mission and name have evolved. Today, it is known as the Florida Blue Foundation, a private corporate foundation. The foundation’s mission is to advance the health of people and communities by addressing key drivers of health; encouraging and supporting employee engagement; and partnering with community organizations. The Florida Blue Foundation is the only health philanthropy that serves all 67 of Florida’s counties. It prioritizes underserved, uninsured, and marginalized populations and its grants serve children, adults, and seniors.

Program Information:

SOCF Cleveland’s grantmaking strategy involves setting specific goals; learning through research and Drivers of Health Initiative – Florida Blue believes everyone deserves access to quality, affordable, and equitable health care, and the opportunity to attain their full health potential. We understand that certain economic and social barriers exist that may prevent many from being as healthy as possible. Our mission to help people and communities achieve better health drives our commitment to do something about it. As a health solution company, it was clear that we must do more in our efforts to address systemic inequities in health and within our organization. Since then, we have taken bold and measurable steps to achieve health equity. We’ve pledged $25 million over five years through the Equity Alliance, an initiative formed in 2020 with a focus on DE&I and advancing health equity in our communities. To date, we have invested nearly $13 million in initiatives throughout the state.

Financial Information:

Total Assets: $540 million (FY21)
Amount Dedicated to Health-Related Grants: $28.7 million (FY21)

Special Initiatives and/or Representative Health and Human Services Grants

UF Health Shands Jax, Urban Health Alliance (“the Alliance”)— Center for Health Equity and Social Justice — To serve as a comprehensive resource center and community health innovation hub focused on improving health throughout Florida using multisector collaboration, the alliance will create, implement, and evaluate a center that can identify and address health inequities and social injustices by developing and implementing strategies to improve access and opportunity for every person to attain their full health and potential. ($3,773,052)

Lee Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute, Orlando Health, and United Way of Broward County (collaborating) Train the Trainer Program—To train more than 3,000 health care professionals who provide services or interact with patients and families who are disadvantaged due to environmental, economic and/or social circumstances, the program utilizes a cultural and linguistic competency curriculum that addresses knowledge, attitudes, and skills required to provide equity-based care. ($2,500,000)

Project Opioid Regional Super Advocates Coalition – Central Florida Foundation, Inc.; Tampa Bay Partnership for Regional Research and Educational Foundation, Inc.; Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Foundation, Jacksonville Chamber Foundation —Project Opioid Initiative is a coalition of business, faith, and philanthropic leaders committed to reducing overdose deaths in the state of Florida. Project Opioid leaders are working with these organizations to make tangible changes to the system of care and, most importantly, save lives. The purpose of this program is to fully establish the five regional super advocates in each area, assisting them with their planning and program implementations.

Urban League of Broward County—The Urban League seeks to design, build, and own a vibrant charter community that is intergenerational, made up of a diverse mix of ages and backgrounds, that can be covered on foot, where the scale of the buildings is suitable and comfortable for new urban design. There are walkable routes and spaces designed for social interaction. The built environment brings to reality the social determinants of health, and they will use data analytics of the families to determine the most impactful social and economic supports. This intergenerational community is a place for working families to grow and elders to thrive in a healthy, safe, and affordable community. ($1,000,000)

Goodwill Industries—Goodwill Industries of North Florida is partnering with several exemplary organizations to restore and operate the beloved Debs Store Neighborhood Market in Jacksonville’s Eastside neighborhood. In doing so, we will be providing that community’s only consistent source of affordable, healthy, fresh food. ($400,000)