Our Story

Health Care Plan founded, serving members in Western New York

Health Services Medical Corporation founded, serving members in central New York

Health Care Plan and Health Services Medical Corporation merge to become Univera Health Care

Univera Health Care merges into Excellus, a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan based in Rochester, NY

As a result of this merger, the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York is founded and endowed with assets that would eventually total approximately $100 million

Governance and legal infrastructure of Foundation developed

Foundation begins operations with offices in Buffalo and Syracuse, NY

Board of Trustees hires Ann F. Monroe as Foundation’s first president

Foundation issues first RFP and chooses funding priorities: frail elders and children living in communities of poverty

Our Early Vision:

Frail elders live out their lives in keeping with their wishes
Children living in communities of poverty reach their full physical, emotional and academic potential
Programs included: Nuts and Bolts, Transitions of Care, Early Childhood Connections, Neighborhood Action Initiative, Falls Prevention, Sharing Your Wishes, Health Leadership Fellows, Reaching for Excellence

Board and staff examined the investments the foundation made and the impact those investments had. As a result, we sharpened our focus on children and elders and refined our visions for both populations. We also formally developed a third focus area – Building Community Health Capacity.

Decline is deferred and frail elders function successfully within the community with effective health care and supports
Children ages birth to 5 living in poverty are healthy and ready to succeed in school
Ensure that people and communities have what they need to make good health decisions and are supported by high quality, appropriate health care

Programs included: CHOMPERS!, The Right Start, Geriatric Workforce Initiative, Step Up to Stop Falls, Maternal and Child Health, Midwifery, Federally Qualified Health Center Booster Project, Fellows Action Network

We celebrated our 10th anniversary and changed our name to the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.

We reaffirmed our commitment to our three focus areas, developed a set of eight principles that guide our work and refined our visions in each focus area.

Our Vision Then:

All older adults are to plan for and maintain a dignified, independent, high-quality life in their communities
All children affected by poverty are physically, socially and emotionally healthy as they enter kindergarten
All communities are able to plan for, and address, the health needs of the most vulnerable and those in poverty

Nora OBrien-Suric, Ph.D. hired as second president of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.

The Health Foundation announces its new vision: A healthy central and western New York where racial and socioeconomic equity is prioritized so all people can reach their full potential and achieve equitable health outcomes.