Foundation announces $2 million in new Health Zones funding to support at-risk populations
WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The CVS Health® Foundation today announced $2 million in new Health Zones funding to support the Hispanic Health Council's Family Wellness Center and its agency partners, all located in Hartford, Connecticut. This funding will help address critical gaps in the health care and social system for individuals with chronic health conditions by increasing access to comprehensive health care services and resources.
CVS Health (PRNewsFoto/CVS Health)
"A variety of interconnected factors influences a person's health," said Sheryl Burke, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer at CVS Health. "To effectively address these specific barriers to improve health outcomes, we are collaborating with local organizations who know the community the best, like the Hispanic Health Council. This new funding in a city our Aetna corporate offices call home, illustrates the power of collaboration and the positive impact we can achieve when we work together to improve community health."
More than two million Connecticut residents, which accounts for over half of the population, live with one or more chronic health conditions. In response, the CVS Health Foundation tailored its Health Zones initiative to support the Family Wellness Center and its agency partners' efforts, including Mental Health Connecticut and the Villages for Families and Children. Services are open to all in the greater Hartford community, and include preventative care, nutrition counseling, mental health support, community health education and other supportive resources. Additionally, the CVS Health Foundation grant will enable the Hispanic Health Council to hire three new patient navigators to assist at-risk individuals in navigating the complex care process.
"At the Hispanic Health Council, we are dedicated to ensuring that every individual has access to the care and resources necessary to thrive," said Ken Barela, CEO of the Hispanic Health Council. "Thanks to the generous support of the CVS Health Foundation, we are able to strengthen our community network by providing dedicated patient navigators who will guide individuals through the complexities of the health care system, ensuring they receive the care they need. With CVS Health's collaboration, our network of providers can more effectively integrate care and help us make future improvements and interventions. We are proud to join forces in expanding our impact and building a healthier, more resilient Hartford community."
In addition to announcing the new Health Zones funding, CVS Health offered free health screenings to individuals at the Family Wellness Center today through its Project Health initiative. All individuals had an on-site consultation with a health care provider and were provided a directory of local health care providers and resources. Last year, CVS Health hosted 23 Project Health events in Hartford and screened more than 450 participants, which resulted in over 1,500 screenings. The program is offered throughout the year across the country and is available in Hartford from June 3 to June 28. A full schedule of events for the remainder of the year can be found online or through its iPhone or Android app.
Supporting the Hispanic Health Council builds on CVS Health and Aetna's long history of community support in Hartford, where Aetna's corporate offices call home. Last year, The CVS Health Foundation Hometown Fund awarded $750,000 in general operating support grants to 15 organizations in the Hartford area. Hartford-based colleagues volunteered nearly 4,000 hours of community service in 2024 to local nonprofits. Aetna Community Affairs also collaborated with local nonprofit organizations to conduct dozens of company volunteer activities and provide product donations to improve the health and well-being of more than 8,000 adults and youth living in Hartford. Additionally, CVS Health supported Hartford Promise's efforts last year to increase access to scholarship opportunities for Hartford Public School students, and has invested in the preservation and renovation of over 440 affordable housing units in the city of Hartford to date.
About CVS Health CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues — including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health — whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system — and their personal health care — by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.
