December 2, 2021
Premera
is supporting local nonprofits providing vital services in every corner of
Washington state and Alaska. We awarded grants of up to $2,500 to more than 60
small-scale, high-impact organizations in each county and borough in its
service area.
The
Premera Social Impact team researched, identified, and reached out to small but
essential organizations working to help those who need it most. This effort has
deepened our understanding of how Premera can best to support the communities
it serves and is a fitting extension of the company's commitment to closing
gaps in access to healthcare services.
"We
went county by county, borough by borough, to find organizations making a true
impact in their communities,” said Paul Hollie, head of Premera Social Impact. “This
was an untraditional approach, but it demonstrates our deep commitment to
supporting rural healthcare and health equity by extending our reach to every
part of Washington and Alaska."
The
County By County initiative was inspired in part by the Premera Washington
State Rural Facilities Capital Grants Partnership Fund, which, in collaboration
with Empire Health Foundation, offers grants to support equipment purchases and
small capital projects for rural healthcare facilities.
"Our
partnership with Empire Health Foundation helped us realize that an
organization's most urgent and distinct needs may be outside of what we were
traditionally focused on in grantmaking," Hollie said. "These County
By County microgrants, which are given without restrictions on use, can have a
tremendous impact on a recipients' ability to improve the health and wellbeing
of their communities."
Grantees,
from Asotin County in southeast Washington to North Slope—the northernmost
borough in Alaska, offer a wide range of services, including infant learning
programs, domestic violence and trauma support, affordable housing, and local
Boys & Girls Clubs.
Since
2017, Premera Social Impact has invested $70.4 million in more than 350
nonprofits focused on behavioral health, homelessness, adverse childhood
experiences, rural health, and health equity for minority populations. To learn
more about Premera Social Impact, read the company's Social Impact Report.