Matt Roskuski and Michelle Kearns, PHP with Dianne May, President and CEO, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana
The PHP Foundation recently announced 2021 grant recipients that support PHP’s mission to build healthier communities by addressing the health and wellness needs of low-income, high-risk individuals.
The PHP Foundation is committed to a healthier Indiana and is strongly in support of each of these organizations and their efforts to provide access to quality healthcare, services, and associated care for those who are uninsured and underinsured.
Below is a highlight of a few agencies receiving PHP Foundation grants and the programs that were awarded.
Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana's Client Advocate Program provides financial assistance, practical resources and compassionate support to people touched by cancer. In 2020, Cancer Services served 4,003 clients and their families and nearly half of all clients were low income and qualified for financial assistance.
Founded in 1944 by local physicians, Cancer Services has evolved from providing basic cancer supplies to include nutrition consultations, legal counsel, exercise therapy, wigs/hats/scarves, financial assistance and support communities.
The PHP Foundation specifically supports the Client Advocate Program. When people with cancer come to Cancer Services they meet with a client advocate, a person who becomes their key resource. The advocate interacts not only with the cancer patient, but with the entire family. Needs are assessed with each client on an ongoing basis to assure that services are available throughout the cancer journey.
Anyone living in Northeast Indiana who has been diagnosed with any type of cancer may use the services provided by Cancer Services.
Maple City Health Care Center
Goshen, Indiana
Mike Genau, Maple City Health Care Center, and dental clinic staff members with Michelle Kearns and Jen Mitchen, PHP.
Maple City Health Care Center is a healthcare home for people in Goshen, Indiana, and the surrounding areas. Clients can obtain a wide-range of health care including preventive services and general care, immunizations, eye care, dental care, and mental health counseling as well as substance abuse counseling.
Dr. James Nelson Gingerich, Director, created a program for Maple City clients that is unique and helpful to the Goshen Community. All Maple City clients are eligible for sliding-fee discounts, if they qualify. For those who cannot afford to pay anything for services, they have the option to pay for their healthcare by volunteering for community organizations. This program entitled, “More than Money,” supports the Maple City Mission of fostering community without offering direct charity. Dr. Gingerich is a visionary when it comes to creating ways to provide healthcare and foster self-sufficiency. The “More than Money” program teaches practical skills and helps clients maintain dignity.
Dr. Gingerich says, “Being a health care home means that we invest in building long term relationships with our patients, with each other, and with the community. We think about and work toward the health of the community as well as the health of individual patients.”
Fort Wayne Rescue Mission
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Jennifer Zurbach, Rescue Mission; Lea Ann Powers, PHP; Dr. James Wehrenberg, PHP Foundation; Laurie Brumbaugh, Rescue Mission; and Allison Coleman, Rescue Mission.
As a place for the poor and homeless in Fort Wayne and surrounding counties, The Rescue Mission served nearly 2,000 individuals in 2020; 100 percent of whom were poor or extremely low income. There are 16 primary services available to all clients including shelter, meals, crisis intervention, case management, mental health assessments, medical touches, medical navigation, transportation, childcare, and more. This faith-based, non-profit organization goes far beyond services and staff dig deep into the causes and circumstances residents come to them for assistance—in order to address and eliminate root causes for longer-lasting impact. Many residents come to The Mission dealing with the effects and long-term impact of trauma, addiction, mental illness and other circumstances that have led to their homelessness. Early interventions with homeless children help reduce generational cycles of poverty.
Additionally, The Fort Wayne Rescue Mission serves meals (more than 200,000 in 2020) and single nights of shelter (40,000+) for homeless people who are not residents. The Rescue Mission does not solicit or receive any government funding and is solely dependent on financial and in-kind gifts from individuals, organizations, and foundations. PHP is honored to support this vital mission that supports so many in our area.
Super Shot, Inc.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Connie Heflin, Super Shot; Gail Doran, PHP; and Super Shot staff.
Super Shot provides immunizations for uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid eligible children and uninsured and underinsured adults. In 2020, Super Shot served approximately more than 13,000 children and over 1,500 adults. Through an expanded partnership with local school districts and the Allen County Department of Health, Super Shot will become the primary point of access for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, when approved.
Connie Heflin, Executive Director, had to work quickly to consolidate services and furlough staff during the COVID pandemic. Finances and services were deeply impacted, yet there was deep, continued community need for vaccinations. PHP Foundation funding will help address this need.
Looking ahead, Super Shot is embarking on a strategic plan that will fund three initiatives: Creating health equity, expanding school system services, and developing an accessible home for services, education, and community collaboration.
RiverBend Cancer Services
South Bend, Indiana
Jen Mitchen and Michelle Kearns, PHP; and Laura Baker, Executive Director, RiverBend Cancer Services.
RiverBend Cancer Services was founded more than 75 years ago when resources and services for cancer patients were unavailable. In 1943, three South Bend doctors founded the organization, recognizing how devastating a cancer diagnosis was on individuals and families. Services for cancer patients has grown to include transportation, medical supplies, education, and access to some of the most innovative and latest cancer treatments available.
The goal of RiverBend is to make life easier for cancer patients by providing interrelated programs to support cancer survivors all the way from diagnosis though treatment and beyond. PHP serves all of Northern Indiana and is glad to count RiverBend among the nonprofit organizations we support.
For a complete list of 2021 Foundation Grant Recipients, please visit our website here.
