The Heinz Endowments has generously provided a $1 million grant to UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, a gift that will significantly expand our reach and deepen our impact on children and families across our region. Supporting our effort to revolutionize community health, this investment strengthens our work to improve health equity by addressing the many social, behavioral, environmental, economic, and medical factors that influence a child’s well-being.
“We are deeply grateful for the foresight of The Heinz Endowments and their confidence in our ability to drive meaningful change,” said Vanessa Morehouse, Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors. “Together, we share the conviction that investing in the health of our children is an investment in the future of Pittsburgh—and far beyond.”
Addressing Real Needs in Our Communities
With support from the grant, health care professionals across UPMC Children’s sites are trained to assess and respond to a wide range of health-related social needs that affect a family’s stability, access, and overall health.
“We could not be more excited to receive this support from The Heinz Endowments,” said Anne Marie Kuchera, UPMC Children’s Director of Community Health. “Our efforts in Children’s Community Health directly align with Heinz Endowments’ commitment to ensure all children in our region grow into healthy adults. With their support, we look forward to increasing access to care for children and families through our transportation assistance program, connecting families to community resources such as safe and healthy foods, to meet health-related social needs by delivering parent education and support programs, and supporting children with chronic health conditions during the school day.”
A Shared Vision for a Thriving Region
This generous $1 million grant empowers UPMC Children’s to further expand its footprint and enhance services in the communities that need it most. By strengthening our existing programs and growing our outreach, we can continue to support more children and families facing health and socioeconomic challenges.
“The Heinz Endowments is committed to ensuring all the children in our region grow into healthy adults,” says Heinz Endowments Vice President Carmen Anderson. “We are supporting the efforts of Children’s Hospital to provide innovative and targeted programs that address both health and social needs because we see them as aligning with our work to help our region become a place where everyone thrives.”
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, develop, and thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Support from donors like The Heinz Endowments helps achieve this vision. If you would like to learn more or join us in supporting our community, visit our Community Health page.
