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Catholic Charities Receives $60,000 in Donations from Amerigroup

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is the recipient of recent donations totaling $60,000 from Amerigroup, a partner of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. With a $55,000 grant, Catholic Charities is extending its Advancing Health Equity initiative through its Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program. The health plan also donated $5,000 to assist Catholic Charities’ Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program.

“Through both of these programs, Catholic Charities promotes an environment of inclusion, whether it’s among families in need of

Jamee Felt, assistant director of Catholic Charities WIC ; Judette Dahleiden, director of Catholic Charities WIC; Deacon Steve Schumer, president and CEO of Catholic Charities; Michael Hofer, president of Amerigroup WNY; Danielle Gare, Marketing and Community Relations Manager for Amerigroup WNY; and Julie Lulek, senior director, Catholic Charities.

nutritional assistance through WIC or refugees becoming established in our community,” said Deacon Steve Schumer, president and CEO, Catholic Charities. “Thanks to the generous support of Amerigroup and Highmark, we continue to be a beacon of hope for our clients and for our community.”

Last July, Catholic Charities was awarded a $55,000 Advancing Health Equity to Achieve Diversity (AHEAD) Grant from the National WIC Association. Funding was used to analyze social determinants of health during nutrition counseling and then connect families to the appropriate community resources, as well as to educate the community and local health care providers on how WIC promotes health equity and the services offered. The original six-month initiative launched in September 2021. With this influx of new funding, the initiative is extended from March 2022 through the end of the year. During this time, WIC staff will be trained on cultural humility and bias, which they can incorporate into client counseling sessions as well as continued collaboration with community partners to increase awareness of the impact of social determinants of health.

WIC is a federal nutrition program that supports families to live a healthier life. WIC provides nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, prenatal and postpartum support, referrals and food benefits for women, infants, and children up to age five. Catholic Charities’ WIC program served more than 23,000 individuals in Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties last year.

“We are proud to support our friends at Catholic Charities to help ensure that communities across Western New York have access to critical health education, support, and resources, especially our most underserved populations,” said Michael Hofer, president of Amerigroup WNY.  “We consistently seek out opportunities and collaborations that can help improve lives, close gaps in care, and increase health equity. As part of this ongoing commitment, we are pleased to work together with organizations like Catholic Charities, who are on the front lines of providing care to some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Amerigroup and Highmark additionally donated $5,000 to the Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program, to help with rent, food, bus passes and any other needs identified by clients, such as steel-toe boots for employment. The health plan also donated 50 health kits containing scales, thermometers, and blood pressure monitors, and they hosted an immunization clinic late last year for resettled clients.

For more details about Catholic Charities’ WIC or Immigration and Refugee Assistance Programs, please visit ccwny.org.