Humana to recognize Louisiana nonprofit with $100,000 grant Company now accepting entries for Louisiana Benefits 2009
NEW ORLEANS — April 13, 2009 — In today’s difficult economic environment, it’s increasingly challenging for the nation’s non-profit organizations to meet the needs of their clients and their communities.
A recent survey by the Conference Board found that 60 percent of companies have either reduced their corporate giving or plan to during 2009.
Health benefits company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is helping to tilt the scale in the other direction by offering Louisiana charities the chance to apply for a one-time, $100,000 grant in the Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program, created by Humana and funded by The Humana Foundation.
In October, Humana’s Louisiana Benefits 2009 will award a one-time, $100,000 grant to a nonprofit organization based in Louisiana that is doing valuable work to benefit the people who live in the state. Louisiana Benefits supports charitable organizations that are focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of Mind, Body or Spirit.
The grant application deadline for this year’s Louisiana Benefits is July 27, and the charitable program is open to Louisiana-based, 501(c)(3) organizations.
"This program continues to play a transformational role in promoting healthy lives and healthy communities for people in Louisiana," said Humana Louisiana Commercial Market President Jamie Schlottman. “Since its inception in the fall of 2005, when we were able to redirect funds to hurricane recovery efforts, to today, when we are extending the reach of an area nonprofit, Louisiana Benefits has been helping people all year long.”
In November 2008, Humana awarded the $100,000 grant in its Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program to Odyssey House Louisiana of New Orleans.
The nonprofit behavioral health provider is using its one-time $100,000 Louisiana Benefits signature grant for expansion of its free community medical clinic in New Orleans so that the organization can provide affordable health care to more in the community.
"Our goal with Louisiana Benefits is to have a meaningful impact on the quality of life for the people who live and work in our state," said Jeff Fernandez, Humana Gulf Coast Division president for Senior Products, “and Odyssey House is certainly delivering on that mission by providing free health care to those in greatest need in our community.”
In September, a diverse panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, will work with Humana to select this year’s $100,000 grant recipient. Humana will recognize and celebrate the Louisiana Benefits 2009 grant recipient at an awards ceremony in mid-October.
Louisiana-based nonprofit groups are encouraged to visit www.louisianabenefits.org to download an online copy of this year’s grant application, including applicant criteria and complete instructions.
Grant applicants should delineate how they would use Humana’s Louisiana Benefits grant to transform their organization; detail their financial health and examples of successful projects they’ve implemented; and, describe how their organization benefits the people of Louisiana.
Humana awards $100,000 grant to Odyssey House New Orleans nonprofit receives Humana’s Louisiana Benefits 2008 grant
NEW ORLEANS — Nov. 6, 2008 — Humana, one of Louisiana’s leading health benefits companies, awarded a $100,000 grant in its 2008 Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program on Oct. 16 to Odyssey House Louisiana of New Orleans.
The nonprofit behavioral health provider plans to use its one-time $100,000 Louisiana Benefits grant for expansion of its free community medical clinic in New Orleans so that it can provide affordable health care to more in the community.
With the expansion, the clinic will have two more examination rooms; one psychiatric exam room; an additional bathroom for patients; and, an administrative area for clinic staff.
For the second consecutive year, Humana’s Louisiana Benefits awarded a one-time, $100,000 signature grant to a nonprofit organization based in Louisiana that is doing valuable work to benefit the people who live in the state. Louisiana Benefits supports charitable organizations that are focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of Mind, Body or Spirit.
Nearly 50 New Orleans business, civic and nonprofit leaders attended Humana’s 2008 Louisiana Benefits grant celebration event Oct. 16 at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. Humana this fall received more than 70 applications from Louisiana nonprofit groups and charitable organizations seeking the $100,000 grant.
A diverse panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, worked with Humana to select the 2008 $100,000 grant recipient in Louisiana Benefits.
“We’re very pleased to present this year’s Louisiana Benefits grant to Odyssey House Louisiana, and know that their community medical clinic expansion will have a major impact on the health of the people they help every day in New Orleans,” said Humana Southern Division Vice President of Medicare Operations George Renaudin.
"This program is playing a significant role in promoting healthy lives and healthy communities for people in Louisiana," said Humana Louisiana Commercial Market President Jamie Schlottman. "Since its start in 2005, when we were able to redirect funds to hurricane recovery efforts, to today, when we are extending the reach of an area nonprofit, Louisiana Benefits has been helping people day to day."
“We could not be more appreciative of Humana and its Louisiana Benefits grant opportunity,” said Edward Carlson, chief executive officer of Odyssey House Louisiana. “This grant will truly have a positive impact on our client population and the community we serve by allowing us to offer premier medical services to those who need them most.”
Humana also awarded smaller grants on Oct. 16, recognizing the community efforts of the other 2008 Louisiana Benefits finalists, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge, and Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans. Junior Achievement received a check for $15,000, and Humana presented Boys & Girls Club with a check for $5,000.
About the 2008 Humana Louisiana Benefits finalists
Odyssey House Louisiana is a New Orleans-based nonprofit behavioral health care provider with an emphasis on addiction treatment. Odyssey House was established in 1973 as a nonprofit residential substance abuse treatment facility with the mission of empowering people to conquer addiction.
Today, Odyssey House offers a professional, structured and caring therapeutic community with comprehensive services and effective support systems that enable individuals to chart new lives and return to their communities as contributing members.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge began in 1980 with a dream of local community and business leaders to provide a safe, positive place for youth that would have significant impact upon their lives. Today, the organization has grown to one with a more than $2 million budget, serving thousands of children annually.
Known as "the positive place for kids," the Club provides guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children six to 18 years old, conducted by professional staff. Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach.
Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans is a leading financial education provider, reaching students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 1955 by businessman and philanthropist Percival Stern, Junior Achievement has taught nearly half a million young people in the New Orleans community about business and entrepreneurship, linking classroom learning to life in the real world.
Junior Achievement serves young people in 12 parishes in the Greater New Orleans area. In the current school year, Junior Achievement reached nearly 22,000 students.
For more on Junior Achievement, go online to www.JAGNO.org.
Humana to recognize Louisiana nonprofit with $100,000 grant Company now accepting entries for Louisiana Benefits 2008
NEW ORLEANS – April 29, 2008 – Louisiana charities have another opportunity to apply for a one-time, $100,000 grant in the Louisiana Benefits charitable awards program, created by health benefits company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), and funded by The Humana Foundation.
In October, Humana's Louisiana Benefits 2008 will award a one-time, $100,000 grant to a nonprofit organization based in Louisiana that is doing valuable work to benefit the people who live in the state. Louisiana Benefits supports charitable organizations that are focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of Mind, Body or Spirit.
The grant application deadline for this year's Louisiana Benefits is July 31, and the charitable program is open to Louisiana-based, 501(c)(3) organizations.
"This program is playing a significant role in promoting healthy lives and healthy communities for people in Louisiana," said Humana Louisiana Commercial Market President Jamie Schlottman. "Since its start in 2005, when we were able to redirect funds to hurricane recovery efforts, to today, when we are extending the reach of an area nonprofit, Louisiana Benefits has been helping people day to day."
In November 2007, Humana awarded the $100,000 grant in its Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program to Miles Perret Cancer Services of Lafayette, La.
The nonprofit organization is using its one-time $100,000 Louisiana Benefits grant to purchase and equip the Humana Miles Perret Rolling Center mobile unit, which will bring care, compassion, medical supplies and equipment, nutritional supplements, wigs, prostheses and other resources to families fighting and surviving cancer.
"We are pleased to report that next month the Mobile Miles unit will begin traveling across a 12-parish service area in Southwest Louisiana, providing valuable supplies, resources and support to so many people in our communities," George Renaudin, Humana's South Region President for Senior Products.
In September, a diverse panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, will work with Humana to select this year's $100,000 grant recipient. Humana will recognize and celebrate the Louisiana Benefits 2008 grant recipient at an awards ceremony in mid-October.
Louisiana-based nonprofit groups are encouraged to visit www.LouisianaBenefits.org to download an online copy of this year's grant application, including applicant criteria and complete instructions.
Grant applicants should delineate how they would use Humana's Louisiana Benefits grant to transform their organization; detail their financial health and examples of successful projects they've implemented; and, describe how their organization benefits the people of Louisiana.
Humana awards $100,000 grant to Miles Perret Cancer Services Health insurer recognizes Lafayette nonprofit with inaugural charitable award
NEW ORLEANS – November 12, 2007 – Humana, one of Louisiana's leading health benefits companies, awarded the inaugural $100,000 grant in its Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program on Nov. 1 to Miles Perret Cancer Services of Lafayette, La.
The nonprofit organization plans to use its one-time $100,000 Louisiana Benefits grant to purchase and equip the Humana Miles Perret Rolling Center mobile unit. The "Mobile Miles" unit will travel across Southwest Louisiana, bringing care, compassion, medical supplies and equipment, nutritional supplements, wigs, prostheses and other resources to families fighting and surviving cancer.
More than 70 New Orleans business, civic and nonprofit leaders attended Humana's inaugural Louisiana Benefits grant celebration event Nov. 1 at New Orleans Botanical Gardens at City Park in New Orleans.
Humana this fall received numerous applications from Louisiana nonprofit groups and charitable organizations seeking the one-time $100,000 grant.
Louisiana Benefits is Humana's charitable giving program for nonprofit organizations who improve the community through their work in the areas of Mind, Body & Spirit. Each year, Humana will award a $100,000 grant to a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Louisiana in one of these service areas.
Humana initially launched the grant program in 2005. However, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf region in the fall of 2005, the health benefits company redirected its efforts to assist in storm relief and disaster recovery along the Gulf Coast.
In fact, Humana and its associates, through The Humana Foundation and an employee matching gifts program, pledged more than $1.6 million to disaster relief efforts.
"Humana is excited to recognize Miles Perret Cancer Services as the inaugural recipient in our statewide grant program," said Humana Louisiana Commercial Market President Jamie Schlottman.
"We know Humana's Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program will have a significant and meaningful impact each year on promoting healthy lives and healthy communities in the great state of Louisiana," said Humana South Region Senior Products President George Renaudin.
"Miles Perret Cancer Services is pleased to have been selected for Humana's inaugural Louisiana Benefits program," said the center's executive director, Laura St. Pierre-Slavich. "This grant will enable us to serve families in our 12-parish service area who are fighting and surviving cancer. By implementing a mobile program, the families who need our help will no longer bear the burden of traveling to us – we will be in their communities extending our compassionate support and much- needed services."
A diverse panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, worked with Humana to select the inaugural $100,000 grant winner in Louisiana Benefits.
The community leader judges included Kevin Davis, president, St. Tammany Parish Government; Donna Fraiche, shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz; Juan Gershanik, M.D., medical director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, West Jefferson Medical Center; Susan Mintz Kantrow, director of development, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana; and, Carroll Suggs, former chairman and CEO, Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
Humana also awarded smaller grants on November 1, recognizing the community efforts of the other two 2007 Louisiana Benefits finalists, Reconcile New Orleans, Inc., and Parkway Partners. Reconcile New Orleans received a check for $15,000 and Humana presented Parkway Partners with a check for $5,000.
About the 2007 Humana Louisiana Benefits finalists
Miles Perret Cancer Services' mission is founded on the principle that life is sacred, and quality of life should not be forgotten or neglected, particularly when battling cancer. But many cancer patients and their families need the organized and deliberate support of a cancer services center invested in their welfare and healing.
Miles Perret Cancer Services provides cancer support services – services personalized to the needs of each client and each client's family. Criteria for services are inclusive and non-judgmental, with the hope that the organization's work will enhance every patient's quality of life. Ultimately, Miles Perret looks to fill the gaps in patient care by meeting unmet needs – both financial and emotional.
Reconcile New Orleans, Inc., the non-profit organization of which Café Reconcile, the St. Regis Hospitality Program and the Reconcile Construction Program are initiatives, is located in the heart of the Central City, an economically challenged neighborhood suffering from many social troubles.
Café Reconcile, the setting for the St. Regis Hospitality Program, employs local residents, trains at-risk youth from the Greater New Orleans area, and has become a venue for local civic, business, and community leaders to collaborate and communicate with each other. People come together at Café Reconcile's tables from all walks of life, building the neighborhood's image, and moving Central City toward change.
Reconcile has exciting plans for a $2.4 million capital expansion of its five-story building to house a renovated first floor restaurant (Café Reconcile), the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Culinary Learning Center, the Shell Oil Company Business Accelerator, a Family Learning Center, and offices for the employees of Reconcile New Orleans.
Parkway Partners: Founded in 1982 by a coalition of citizens, Parkway Partners is the non-profit volunteer arm of New Orleans' Department of Parks and Parkways. It receives no funding from the city and is responsible for raising its operating budget and monies to carry out its various programs.
In its 25 years, Parkway Partners has worked with tens of thousands of volunteers and has established a number of programs that support the partnership of citizens and government necessary to creating and maintaining New Orleans' extensive green spaces.
Humana offers $100,000 grant for Louisiana Benefits 2007 Health insurer to recognize Louisiana nonprofit with charitable award
NEW ORLEANS – MAY 29, 2007 – Louisiana nonprofit organizations and charitable groups are invited to apply for a one-time, $100,000 grant in the 2007 Louisiana Benefits charitable awards program, created and funded by health benefits company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM).
Humana's 2007 Louisiana Benefits program will award a one-time, $100,000 grant to a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization based in Louisiana that is doing valuable work to benefit the people that live in that state. Louisiana Benefits supports charitable organizations that focus on the areas of mind, body and spirit.
Humana initially launched the grant program in 2005. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf region, however, the health benefits company redirected its efforts to assist in storm relief and disaster recovery along the Gulf Coast.
In fact, Humana and its associates, through The Humana Foundation and an employee matching gifts program, pledged more than $1.6 million to disaster relief efforts.
"Humana is very pleased to revive this statewide grant program," said Humana Louisiana Commercial Market President Jamie Schlottman. "While we felt it was important to refocus our philanthropic and humanitarian efforts after the hurricane devastation the state of Louisiana experienced two years ago, we strongly believe the time is right now for Louisiana Benefits to return, and we know this program will have a significant and meaningful impact on promoting healthy lives and healthy communities in the state."
The grant application deadline for this year's Louisiana Benefits charitable competition is July 30, and Louisiana Benefits is open to Louisiana-based, 501(c)(3) organizations.
Louisiana-based nonprofit groups are encouraged to visit www.LouisianaBenefits.org to download an online copy of this year's grant application, and review competition rules.
Grant applicants should delineate how they would use Humana's Louisiana Benefits grant to transform their organization; detail their financial health and examples of successful projects they've implemented; and, describe how their organization benefits the people of Louisiana.
Louisiana Benefits 2007 will give special consideration to projects that:
Have outcomes that address the community’s health and
wellness needs;
Can be completed within a year with the one time grant;
and
Will be able to continue without requiring additional financial support
A diverse panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders and business representatives, will work with Humana to select the $100,000 grant winner. Humana will recognize and celebrate the 2007 Louisiana Benefits grant winner at a local awards ceremony in early November.
Media Contact