Housing, Hot Meals, and More: How We Work Locally to Help Communities Thrive

Key Highlights:

• Elevance Health works with local nonprofits, schools, and professional sports teams to address whole-health factors like food insecurity, housing, and mental well-being.
• Community-based partnerships provide practical resources, including nutritious meals, diapers, and spaces that promote physical and emotional wellness.
• Employee volunteers and Elevance Health Foundation grant funding help expand these efforts and strengthen communities across the country.

Health is shaped not only by the medical care people receive, but by the places where they learn, play, work, and call home. That’s why we work in communities across the country to connect people with the resources and support that can help them be as healthy as possible.

In partnership with local nonprofits and area health advocates, we help provide no-cost health screenings and necessities like diapers and nutritious food. We sponsor events and programs that bring people together, building community and bridging gaps to foster better physical and mental health. Our associates volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours and give millions of dollars in charitable donations. 

These types of on-the-ground efforts are part of our whole-health approach and reflect our dedication to the people and communities we serve. For the sixth year in a row, they’ve contributed to our recognition as a Civic 50 honoree from the global nonprofit Points of Light. The organization honors companies for devoting time, skills, and resources toward improving quality of life in their communities.

“Our whole-health approach comes to life through trusted community partnerships and support that meets people where they are,” said Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, chief health officer at Elevance Health. “When we work alongside community organizations, we can help remove barriers and support better health for the people and communities we serve.”
 

Addressing the Everyday to Improve Whole Health

Because up to 80% of health stems from factors outside the doctor’s office, creating opportunities for better health can mean helping people with everyday essentials or fostering supportive social connections. For example:

• In Lucas County, Ohio, where estimates indicate more than 1 in 4 children recently lived in a household experiencing food insecurity, an Elevance Health-affiliated plan joined with the nonprofit Connecting Kids to Meals to offer weekly hot lunches at no cost to children and teens in the Toledo area.
• In Reno, Nevada, we partnered with a music therapy nonprofit to host the “Take a Beat” program — an initiative designed to support the mental health of new mothers through singing, songwriting, and other therapeutic activities.
• In Sacramento, California, we worked with the nonprofit Bay Area Community Services to transform a vacant motel into more than 40 units of permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.

“When we talk about whole health, we’re talking about the many factors that shape a person’s health: from food and housing to emotional support and social connection,” Agrawal said. “By supporting community-led solutions, we can help address those needs in ways that are practical, personal, and meaningful.”
 

Teaming Up for Healthier Schools and Communities

In cities spanning the country, we’ve teamed up with professional sports franchises to strengthen communities through initiatives that can reach people in schools and other local spaces.