Five Fairfield County community health centers awarded grants to increase access to primary care

The GE Foundation-the philanthropic organization of GE- and the GE Corporate Diversity Council today announced $1.25 million in grants to five Fairfield County community health centers with the goal of increasing access to primary care for uninsured and underserved populations across the county.

“It's particularly meaningful for us to expand Developing Health to Fairfield County - not only home to our corporate headquarters and GE Capital, but also thousands of GE employees”

The donations expand the reach of GE Developing Health™, a 3-year, $50 million commitment that provides grant funding and GE employee engagement to selected healthcare centers across the United States.

"It's particularly meaningful for us to expand Developing Health to Fairfield County - not only home to our corporate headquarters and GE Capital, but also thousands of GE employees," said Beth Comstock, Chief Marketing Officer of GE. "Increasing access to primary care is vital to our community and Developing Health will help do this right here in our back yard. There's a perception that Fairfield County doesn't have as many underinsured or uninsured residents -- and that's simply not the case."

"The number of uninsured Connecticut residents rose at a rate of twice the national average from 2008 to 2009, with Fairfield County ranking equal to Harford and Litchfield counties with 10.8 percent of residents living without insurance," said Bob Corcoran, president and chairman of the GE Foundation. "GE recognizes there is a critical need in the U.S. healthcare system and Developing Health seeks to fill the gap in access to quality care for underserved communities. Our partnership with these Fairfield health centers is a great example of the positive impact that can be made by combining funding with GE's volunteer support."

The five Fairfield County health centers are:

• Community Health Center, Inc. - Norwalk
• Community Health Center, Inc. - Danbury
• Optimus Health Care, Inc. - Bridgeport
• Optimus Health Care, Inc. - Stamford
• Southwest Community Health Center, Inc. - Bridgeport

Each of the five health centers will receive $250,000 over two years. Fairfield County is the tenth location in the U.S. to receive grants through the Developing Health initiative.

In addition to the grants, Developing Health includes a 3-year volunteer commitment from area GE employees drawing specifically on their business management skills. Fairfield County is home to thousands of GE employees and skill-based volunteerism will further enhance the health center's ability to serve their respective communities.

"Thanks to GE for this generous contribution, and I applaud the company's employees for volunteering their own time to help ensure these health centers will continue to succeed," said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4). "Health care reform took important steps toward improving care for all Americans, but we must continue working together to improve access for everyone. Grants like these are key to that effort."

Through Developing Health, GE employees work with the health centers to address specific needs, ranging from marketing communications to process improvements, and offer their business skills and expertise to drive improvements that benefit patients, workflows and outcomes. In the past GE volunteers have assisted with process mapping, regulatory and procedural compliance, financial expansion planning and budgeting as well as IT plans.

To accomplish this each health center is linked with one of GE's Affinity Networks or employee groups, which include: the Asian Pacific American Forum, Women's Network, Hispanic Forum, African American Forum, Veteran's Network and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance to establish priorities and projects for the three years.

SOURCE GE