Total Health Care Foundation announces first round grant recipients with contributions totaling over $1 million

The Total Health Care Foundation has committed to providing millions of dollars’ worth of grants over the next few years to support organizations committed to improving the lives of individuals they serve

(Detroit, Mich. – March 8, 2021) Total Health Care USA and Priority Health announced today that the first round of grant recipients have been named by the Total Health Care Foundation. Created as part of the merger agreement between Priority Health and Total Health Care, the Total Health Care Foundation's first round of grants total more than $1.8 million are going to Southeast Michigan organizations that are committed to improving the health and well-being of the individuals they serve. The creation of the Total Health Care Foundation demonstrates Priority Health's commitment to finding solutions to the health disparities and social determinants of health (SDoH) facing Michigan residents such as food and housing shortages, economic stability and health issues. Learn more about how Priority health is addressing social determinants of health.

"After a detailed review process, we are pleased to announce the first round of grant recipients from the Total Health Care Foundation," said Shannon Wilson, Vice President of State Markets, East for Priority Health. "Each of these organizations is committed to serving their communities in a variety of ways which aligns with what both Total Health Care and Priority Health stand for in terms of addressing the needs of their communities. We look forward to seeing what each of these organizations achieves in the near future."

Earlier this year, the Total Health Care Foundation engaged The Children's Foundation to provide operational support, enabling the organization to operate more efficiently and effectively. The Children's Foundation will also provide insight on which organizations would be a good fit as a grant recipient.

The first round of grant recipients are:

  • Alternatives for Girls ($100K) - Alternative for Girls helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation. They house, feed and educate these girls and young women (and their children) in Southwest Detroit.
  • Brilliant Detroit ($148K) - Brilliant Detroit educates families with young children (0-8) in the inner city. They educate neighborhood leaders, which in turn, creates a neighborhood hub to serve families with young children to improve the economic status of the family, literacy, prenatal and postnatal care, early childhood education and access to healthcare.
  • CATCH ($165K) - CATCH is dedicated to improving the quality of life for pediatric patients and their families at Children's Hospital of Michigan and Henry Ford Hospital.
  • Cass Community Social Services ($100K) - This grant will be used to support the construction of two tiny homes as part of CCSS' Tiny Homes Initiative for low-income Detroit residents. The homes will be constructed on vacant land on Monterey Street.
  • Hope Clinic ($100K) - Hope Clinic provides healthcare services for those without insurance or who are ineligible for government assistance.
  • Kids Health Connections ($99K) - Kids Health Connections is expanding its existing KHC Pilot: connecting children to primary care physicians to receive necessary health services and address food insecurities in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.
  • Make Your Date Detroit ($150K) - This Wayne State University program launched in 2014 to ensure all women in Detroit have easy access to prenatal care and coverage. It focuses on engaging community-based efforts and marrying that with evidence-based practice and prenatal education.
  • National Kidney Foundation of Michigan ($193K) - The NKFM was founded in 1955 with the mission of preventing kidney disease and improving the quality of life for those living with it. The NKFM and its partners achieve their goals through innovative, result-oriented initiatives that focus on education, prevention, disease management as well as through advocacy, research funding and programs to encourage organ donation.
  • Neighborhood Service Organization ($202K) - NSO has been providing care management and support to a broad range of people in need throughout Detroit for the past 65 years. Their team of doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed social workers, therapists and case managers help over 10,000 people a year.
  • Oakland University ($4K) - This grant is being used to provide critical flu shots to students.
  • Salvation Army - SUD ($164K) - Only 20% of people with substance abuse disorder receive treatment and the Salvation Army's SUD Program links up with health care systems and transitions SUD discharges from the systems into their facility. The program provides housing in their facility while they rehabilitate and assist in finding proper housing as they wrap up their program.
  • SHAR ($105K) - SHAR will fund transitional housing components and rapid COVID-19 testing.
  • St. Vincent de Paul Society COVID Relief ($100K) - With over 1.4 million Michiganders unemployed, there is immediate need for the services that St. Vincent de Paul supplies every day through their foundational program, which provides food, clothing, household items like a bed or crib, rent assistance, utility bill assistance and a free one-week camp for at-risk children. This grant will help the organization fund rent, utilities, food and other basic necessities for those impacted by COVID-19.
  • Vista Maria ($220K) - The grant will fund expenses related to Vista Maria's emergency intake wing such as medical room equipment, furnishings, specialty audio equipment and security system equipment.

Additional grant applications are currently being evaluated by the Total Health Care Foundation and The Children's Foundation. For more information about the Total Health Care Foundation, please email THCFoundation@thcmi.com or visit our Total Health Care Foundation page.

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. 

About Total Health Care:

Total Health Care, Inc., a fully licensed and federally qualified managed care organization founded and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1973, making it the oldest HMO in southeastern Michigan. The company provides members throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee and portions of Monroe County with comprehensive health care plan coverage. The company's extensive health care delivery system includes more than 2,560 health care centers, 2,050 primary care physicians, and 4,500 specialists. Total Health Care provides Individual and Family, employer group and Michigan Medicaid Plans.