Free vaccines, flexible hours food pantry,
more dignity for older adults, all backed by
$600K Priority Health Total Health Foundation grants

(DETROIT, Mich. – May 7, 2024) The Priority Health Total Health Foundation has awarded $608,000 in
grants to eight nonprofits that are laser focused on improving and bettering lives for the underserved living in
Detroit.

The foundation specifically chose organizations working at the grassroots level, meeting families at their
greatest point of need, in an intentional effort to improve social determinants of health which affect overall
health and well-being.

Grant recipients are placing their committed efforts in the areas of:

• Maternal mortality to improve health outcomes for women of color;

• A food pantry with flexible hours to accommodate all families regardless of schedules;

• A mobile unit offering free vaccine unit to ensure all children receive protection from childhood
   illness.  

• And a residential aging-in-place program with an emphasis on the importance of maintaining the
   dignity of older adults.

“These organizations all strongly align with our goals to improve health outcomes for the underserved in
Detroit by addressing the social determinants of health. We are thrilled to be able to support them financially
and partner in offering programs and services that were formerly unavailable,” said Shannon Wilson, executive
director of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation.

The Priority Health Total Health Foundation grant recipients are:

Ascension Southeast Michigan Community Health: With the goal of reducing the risk of maternal
mortality and severe material morbidities, the Ascension Southeast Michigan Mother and Baby Support
Program provides greater access to improved perinatal care, addressing pregnancy and postpartum mental
health needs, as well as navigating social determinants of health-related needs to promote the equitable
delivery of services and improved outcomes for women of color in underserved Oakland, Macomb, Detroit and
Wayne County communities.

Forgotten Harvest: Their Client Choice Market introduces a transformative approach to addressing food
insecurity among metro Detroit's residents, providing individuals and families with a dignified and
empowering grocery shopping experience. Unlike traditional mobile pantry distributions, the Client Choice
Market offers flexible appointments during off-hours, ensuring accessibility and supporting holistic well-being
with compassion and understanding to ensure that individuals facing food scarcity receive the support and
resources they need to thrive.

Gary Burnstein Community Clinic: With a client base that is over half Spanish speaking, undocumented
residents, the staff works daily to care for the ill and increase the understanding of health and well-being, all
while decreasing language barriers among the population it serves.

Hannan Center: Called My Neighborhood Connection (MNC), this community-based, aging-in-place
initiative encourages older adults to support one another with the premise that everyone has something of value
to share, regardless of age, education or income. Using a resident-driven, asset-based approach, MNC
organizes older adults in targeted communities, helps them identify their talents and develops a no-cost, peerto-
peer support network.

Life Remodeled: Life Remodeled is renovating and repurposing a former school building in the Denby
community on Detroit's far eastside. This property will become a one-stop opportunity hub for students,
families and adults who reside in the area and will offer access to essential resources. Nonprofits committed to
providing community resources will be invited to lease space in the new hub.

O’Hair Park Community Association: OHPCA's goal is to offer year-round programming for youth and
families in the community and hire a part time manager to coordinate activities geared specifically for them.
The proposed project seeks to increase focus on the long-term well-being and health of its residents and
surrounding neighborhoods, acting strategically and intentionally to foster healthy environments for children.

Wayne Mobile Health Unit: Ascension: To expand the already established, federally funded Vaccines for
Children program, the WMHU is planning to establish a mobile free vaccine program to increase accessibility
to childhood vaccines in Detroit, as well as provide vaccine education to parents and guardians who are
resistant to childhood vaccinations.

Wayne State University Office of Women’s Health: Their SOS MATERNITY program includes an
alliance of major health institutions across the state committed to reducing maternal mortality trends with
evidence-based approaches to improve supportive maternal care.

The Priority Health Total Health Foundation continues to be a leader in partnering with mission-oriented
nonprofits addressing the most vulnerable populations in Southeast Michigan with a total of $16.2 million in
grant monies distributed since 2020.

Learn more about the Priority Health Total Health Foundation

About Priority Health:

With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering an extensive portfolio of health benefits options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than 1.3 million members each year and offering a broad network of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Learn more about affordable, quality health coverage options from Priority Health.