Humana Foundation Investing $7.6 Million in Eight Communities to Address Social Determinants of Health

The Humana Foundation, philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) for the past 38 years, is investing $7.6 million in eight communities across the southeastern United States to address social determinants of health on a local level, helping more people achieve health equity. Part of its ongoing Strategic Community Investment Program, The Humana Foundation will create two new investments in New Orleans totaling $1 million and will continue its existing investments with 10 organizations in seven other communities, including expanding its investment in Baton Rouge, La.

Through partnerships with local organizations and community members, The Humana Foundation’s Strategic Community Investment Program creates measurable results in some of the most common social determinants of health, including post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, social connectedness, financial asset security and food security. These investments are located in Humana ‘Bold Goal’ communities, places where Humana and The Humana Foundation are working to help people improve their health 20 percent by 2020 and beyond.

“Our Strategic Community Investments holistically address social determinants of health at the systems- and community-level,” said Walter D. Woods, CEO of The Humana Foundation. “We believe this approach will positively impact health outcomes in our target communities which our first year results confirm. Consequently, we are creating new investments in New Orleans and continuing our investments in other locations.”

Two new Strategic Community Investments in New Orleans will address financial asset security, post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, and food security.

Kingsley House will receive an investment of $416,480 for its Career Pathways program, an employment program that helps lift families out of generational poverty by creating greater financial asset security and post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment. Kingsley House will collaborate with DePaul Community Health Centers and Crescent City Family Services to help families access community resources.

Growing Local Food Collaborative will receive $613,620 to address financial asset security, post-secondary attainment and sustaining employment, and food security in New Orleans. The program will take a unique, cooperative approach by working through local partnerships to bring fresh food into food deserts, to create new markets and train local farmers, and to provide training and an employment pipeline for youth in the local food and hospitality economy. Partners in this initiative include, Liberty’s Kitchen, New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee, Recirculating Farms Coalition, SPROUT NOLA, Top Box Foods Louisiana, and joined by Second Harvest Food Bank for special projects.