WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) and the CVS Health Foundation today announced a total
of nearly $1.25 million in grants to
help underserved communities in Ohio increase access to food and health
care. CVS Health will provide $1
million to free and charitable clinics in Ohio to increase access to telehealth services
in coordination with the National Association of Free and
Charitable Clinics. The company will also work with Feeding
America to provide nearly $100,000 in
grants to local food banks across the State of Ohio to provide meal kits for
seniors, school-aged children and those who have had to shelter in
place as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Separately, the
CVS Health Foundation will invest $150,000 over two years to support Cleveland
Clinic and their full-service school-based health mobile
unit.
"At a time when underserved communities are so badly strained by
the ongoing health and economic implications of the COVID-19
pandemic, it is more important than ever for us to provide support
to increase access to food and health care," said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of Corporate Social
Responsibility, CVS Health and President, CVS Health
Foundation. "Working with national leaders like the National
Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Feeding America and
Cleveland Clinic, we are bringing needed resources into local
communities in Ohio to make a
meaningful impact for those who are most in need."
CVS Health's $1 million in grants
to free and charitable clinics in Ohio will help support expanded access to
health care by implementing and expanding access to telehealth
services for patients. Funds will help clinics add technology
solutions, including software and hardware, increase training and
staffing needs and secure internet services to support the practice
of telemedicine.
CVS Health will also build on its relationship with Feeding
America to invest nearly $100,000 to
improve access to health and nutritious food for at-risk
Ohio residents. Grants will
be made to local food banks across the state.
The CVS Health Foundation, a private charitable organization
created by CVS Health, will extend its support for the Cleveland
Clinic's school-based health mobile unit, which travels to schools
in Ohio, allowing clinicians to
perform routine check-ups, vaccinations, health screenings,
consultations, treatments for minor illnesses and injuries, and
more. Even as schools have switched to virtual learning, the
unit continues to be available to students to provide seamless and
consistent care to patients who need it. The unit has also
expanded telemedicine services to provide remote care during the
pandemic. Support from the CVS Health Foundation will also
increase access to adolescent health education, dental health and
care for children's mental well-being.
This support for Ohio
non-profits follows a $300,000
commitment from Aetna Better Health of Ohio, a CVS Health company, earlier this year
to three organizations focused on expanding access to primary care
services, improving the health status of at-risk communities and
providing pregnant women and children with behavioral health
support in the Buckeye State. That funding supported the
Healthcare Collaborative of Greater
Columbus, Ohio Children's Alliance and Moms2B.
"As part of the CVS Health enterprise, Aetna Better Health of
Ohio is able to build on a shared
commitment across our company to supporting local communities,"
said Maureen Pero, Aetna Better
Health executive. "Together we are able to make a significant
impact supporting the health and well-being of families across
Ohio."
In September, CVS Health also announced a $13.7 million investment to help renovate 230
low-income housing units at the Rosewind apartments in Columbus. The funds will also be used to
make significant improvements to the local community center and
support new community programs in the area.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a different kind of
health care company. We are a diversified health services company
with nearly 300,000 employees united around a common purpose of
helping people on their path to better health. In an increasingly
connected and digital world, we are meeting people wherever they
are and changing health care to meet their needs. Built on a
foundation of unmatched community presence, our diversified model
engages one in three Americans each year. From our innovative new
services at HealthHUB® locations, to transformative programs that
help manage chronic conditions, we are making health care more
accessible, more affordable and simply better. Learn more about how
we're transforming health at www.cvshealth.com.
About the CVS Health Foundation
The CVS Health
Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS
Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people
of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation
provides strategic investments to nonprofits throughout the U.S.
who help increase community-based access to health care for
underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic
disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth
prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that
open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic
aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our
philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues' spirit of
volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge Grants to nonprofits where
they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about
the CVS Health Foundation and its giving,
visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.
Media Contact:
Charlie
Rice-Minoso
rice-minosoc@aetna.com
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SOURCE CVS Health