• Florida Blue awarded $3.5 million in financial grants to nine Florida nonprofits fighting health inequality this weekend 
• The programs help equip underserved communities with necessary medical resources 
• The announced grants build upon the company’s nearly $4 million investment into food insecurity efforts last month

Florida Blue, a leading health insurance provider within the state, announced last weekend that it is awarding a total of $3.5 million in grants to nine nonprofit organizations across Florida.

The grants, ranging between three and four years in length, will provide the nonprofits with resources to actualize ongoing health equity programs. The programs will be designed to better equip the organizations to meet the needs of diverse populations and communities, according to Florida Blue.

The recipients of the grants include Health Care for the Homeless (Orlando), Hope CommUnity Center (Apopka), The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida (Jacksonville), United Way Emerald Coast (Fort Walton Beach), YMCA of Florida’s First Coast (Jacksonville), Foster Care Review (Miami), Legal Services of Greater Miami, Advocate Program (Miami), and Nonprofit Leadership Center (Tampa Bay).

“All of us at Florida Blue are proud to have our Foundation support nonprofit organizations in their quest to eliminate health disparities and help Floridians reach their optimal health regardless of their social position or other social circumstances,” said Pat Geraghty, Florida Blue president and CEO. “We believe it is a foundational step in the long journey to achieving health equity.”

According to the Florida Department of Health, health equity can be better attained through the use of telehealth technology and affordable care.

Health equity is a central pillar of Florida Blue's work in the community. As part of the Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend, our President and CEO Pat Geraghty and Chief Health Equity Officer Dr. Kelli Tice convened key business,

— Florida Blue (@FLBlue) November 19, 2022

The announcement was given ahead of the Florida Blue Florida Classic, an annual rivalry football game between Florida A&M University and Bethune Cookman University, continuing an ongoing community assistance initiative.

Last month, the company invested $3.73 million in grants on Wednesday to community-based programs through its Florida Blue Foundation.

The 10 nonprofit organizations receiving the latest round of funding from the Florida Blue Foundation are utilizing the grants to strengthen localized food security initiatives and address obstacles to food security in communities across the state.

The latest round of grants brought the total investment in food security programs from Florida Blue and its Foundation to more than $16 million over the last four years.