accelerating momentum through partnership
What does it take for a community program to reach the next level of impact? Collaboration, respect, and flexibility, according to the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York. The foundation, established in 2002, partners with organizations across 16 counties in New York State, building relationships through an approach known as “trust-based philanthropy,” which works to disrupt traditional power dynamics between funders and nonprofits.
One nonprofit partner of the Health Foundation is the Buffalo Center for Health Equity (BCHE), where Chief Executive Officer Rev. George Nicholas is laser-focused on the health challenges facing Erie County, particularly Buffalo’s East Side. He looks forward to the day when it’s impossible to tell someone’s ethnicity, race, education level, socioeconomic status, or neighborhood just by looking at their
medical chart.
Established in 2019, BCHE grew out of the African American Health Equity Task Force, thanks in large part to a grant from the Health Foundation. Made up of local clergy, university faculty, community leaders, and residents, the task force, which had formed in 2014, was doing unfunded research and introducing new ideas into the public dialogue about health care.
Pastor George says that when Nora OBrien-Suric, PhD, President of the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, reached out to him, the Health Foundation became “the first foundation to step up and say ‘we want to invest in the work you’re doing.’” With the initial grant from the Health Foundation and funds from Erie County, the group was able to establish BCHE, hire staff, and build capacity.
Five years later, BCHE is more active than ever. Equal parts think tank and advocacy powerhouse, it conducts research, crafts policy recommendations, develops programs, collaborates with government, engages the community to collect valuable data, and elevates public discourse. BCHE helped Erie County establish its first Office of Health Equity and was also instrumental in creating the University at Buffalo’s Community Health Equity Research Institute.
Another thriving Health Foundation partner is West Falls Center for the Arts. West Falls’ Musical Memories Café is a place for caregivers and their loved ones to come together to enjoy socializing, refreshments, and entertainment by local musicians. In 2020, the café was part of the first cohort of Exhale, the Family Caregiver Initiative, a funding partnership between the Health Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to help boost respite opportunities in Western New York.
Participants with dementia, hearing the music of their younger years, have overwhelmingly positive responses, while their caregivers enjoy their loved ones’ company in an stress-free and joyful environment. It’s not just about the music; attendees also find a community to rely on and get connected to other services that can help them.
“When I see that we are at max capacity every time, and that we could do this every day of the week, it shows me how valuable this program is and how it needs to continue to grow,” said Carolyn Panzica, Executive Director of West Falls Center for the Arts.
The Health Foundation’s most recent partnership involves Univera Healthcare, the organization that helped fund its endowment back in 2002.
Univera Healthcare approached the foundation with the idea of collaborating on the nonprofit health insurer’s Health Equity and Innovation Awards, which provide funding to community-based organizations to support health and wellness programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities.
“Combining our resources for this year’s round of awards will have a greater impact on our community than either organization acting alone,” said Univera Healthcare President Art Wingerter.
The Health Foundation is providing additional funds to enhance the program. Priorities include maternal health, behavioral health, and acute and chronic disease management.
According to OBrien-Suric, the unique partnership with Univera Healthcare builds on their organizations’ shared heritage and common mission to advance health equity and improve community health.
“Partnership and leveraging our collective strengths are at the heart of our work,” OBrien-Suric said.
Learn more about the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York at www.hfwcny.org