Priority Health Total Health Foundation awards grants to address early childhood care, youth hunger, digital literacy

(DETROIT, Mich. – February 19, 2024) In a continued effort to address the Social Determinants of Health and health equity in Southeast Michigan, the Priority Health Total Health Foundation awarded $667,500 to seven nonprofits working to eliminate childhood hunger, strengthen families with small children, and remove technological barriers and other factors that impact the livelihood of those living and working in and around Detroit.

These grant recipients actively seek to make a difference for Southeast Michigan residents by engaging in initiatives to improve standard of living by creating a healthy food system, giving high-quality maternal care, offering affordable housing, providing internet access and increasing meal and food access for children.
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with these like-minded organizations that are making great strides toward improving factors like housing, nutrition and education in so many people’s lives who live and work in Southeast Michigan,” said Shannon Wilson, executive director of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation.

The Priority Health Total Health Foundation grant recipients are:
BasBlue: A Chef-In-Residence Program to contribute to Detroit’s need to grow a healthy food system by supporting a diverse group of entrepreneurs. Participants will receive mentorship, professional development and relationship building.

Brilliant Detroit: Founded in 2015 to offer holistic care to children (ages newborn to 8) through early child and family centers situated in neighborhoods across Detroit. Neighbors gather for fellowship, activities and community in an effort to assure school readiness and provide family support.

MACC Development: Existing to seek the revitalization of Detroit’s 48214 neighborhood “block by block, neighbor by neighbor.” With a philosophy that community development starts on front porches rather than top down, MACC works to provide not only affordable housing to low-income families but also low-cost home repairs.

Mercy Education Project: Once a small tutoring program, Mercy Education Project provides a range of programs to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged girls and women in Detroit. Initiatives include adult literacy, job training, digital literacy, nutrition and physical fitness, as well as emotional and mental health support.

Rocket Mortgage Classic: In an effort to bridge the digital divide across Detroit, Rocket Mortgage’s Connect 313 has worked since 2020 to ensure every Detroit resident has a reliable internet connection, a device that can access the online world and the knowledge to use it. Rocket Mortgage Classic has funded efforts that have increased digital inclusion from 40% to 70% in just three years.

Samaritas: Serving as a family preservation program for the past 90 years, grant funding will support the Quality of Life Index project to engage leadership, key constituents and the public across multiple sectors to take action and design policies to improve the lives of 33,000 clients annually– including child and family, mental health and addiction services, refugees and housing.

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit: Serving Detroit since 1872, its Healthy Living Project supports the growth of increased nutrition education, food access and collective community impact efforts to address hunger for youth, families and individuals in Detroit, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

About Priority Health Total Health Foundation:

The Priority Health Total Health Foundation continues to lead in the area of partnering with mission-oriented nonprofits addressing our most vulnerable populations in Southeast Michigan with a total of $15 million in grant monies distributed since 2020.

About Priority Health:

With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering an extensive portfolio of health benefits options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than 1.3 million members each year and offering a broad network of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Learn more about affordable, quality health coverage options from Priority Health.