Priority Health Total Health Foundation impacts lives with $375,000 in grants to nonprofits in Southeast Michigan
(DETROIT, Mich. — December 11, 2023) The Priority Health Total Health Foundation announces six recipients of its year-end grants who are actively engaging and promoting children, adolescents, older adults and those with disabilities in the Detroit area.
The funds will support academics, career opportunities, mental health, living arrangements and a variety of other services for underserved populations that include school-age girls of color and children of incarcerated parents.
“These excellent organizations were chosen as grant recipients because of their boots-on-the-ground approach and their proven impact on the lives of individuals who need someone to come alongside and care,” said Shannon Wilson, executive director of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation. “We make it our mission to partner with them to change the trajectory of people’s lives.”
To date, the Priority Health Total Health Foundation has given more than $14 million to more than 100 organizations serving the Detroit and Southeast Michigan areas that successfully address social determinants of health (SDoH) such as food and housing shortages, physical and mental health issues and economic stability.
The six recipients of Priority Health Total Health Foundation grants include:
Figure Skating in Detroit – Promotes girls of color through the artistic discipline of figure skating with an emphasis on providing mentorship to grow confidence, develop leadership and support academic success. Programs include the I Can Excel After School Program, day camps, community workshops and figure skating instruction.
Futures Foundation – Acts as a voice for people with developmental disabilities serving to assist in getting access to everyday needs and developing solutions for lifelong thriving and care. Works to enhance the dignity, confidence and independence of those with developmental disabilities.
Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities (LAHC) – Serving more than 80,000 individuals annually, LAHC serves to champion and support immigrant populations that encounter systematic racism and generational poverty. Programs include youth development, mental health services, literacy, housing assistance and food distribution.
Give Merit – Works to combat the high drop-out rate in Detroit through their FATE program by engaging high school students through mentorship and workshops and helping them aspire to college, careers and civil involvement.
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan – Offers seniors affordable housing including apartments, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities, as well as home and community living services. Serving over 7,500 elderly throughout the state, PVM has provided dignified living for seniors since 1945.
Pure Heart Foundation – Comes alongside some of the least considered ones, children with an incarcerated parent who often bear a stigma of shame. Their holistic model provides academic enrichment, cycle breakers initiative, mental health and wellness, one-on-one mentoring, family reunification, and recreational activities.
Grant recipients express their gratitude:
“Figure Skating in Detroit's mission is to empower every young girl with the foundational, academic, social and leadership skills to achieve her dreams. As an innovator in community health wellness, Priority Health's funding support is helping us reach new heights in providing relevant programming that will impact our youth,” said Lori Ward, executive director.
LAHC Manager Marci Mahssney said: “Priority Health Total Health Foundation’s generous support isn’t just an investment in a program, it’s an investment in brighter futures, increased opportunities and expanded access to appropriate behavioral health services. The foundation’s support helps nonprofit organizations like LAHC continue to build supportive community environments that ultimately enable our extraordinary youth to thrive and reach their full potential.”
“Thank you, Priority Health Total Health Foundation. This grant will enable us to serve so many older adults as we use it to renovate the dining space at McFarlane Village,” said Paul Miller, president of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.
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.