A word from our CEO | Humana Foundation Named IAPHS’s Member of the Month (March 2025) | Thank you, Applicants! | Humana Foundation Donates $250,000 in Wake of Catastrophic Flooding in Kentucky | Sharing Our Learnings | Partner Highlight: Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay | Tiffany Benjamin Named to Power 50 | Giving Back to Our Communities | Uniting to Prevent Veteran Suicide at Face the Fight Coalition Meeting | Associate Spotlight | Food as Health: Shifting from Treatment to Prevention of Diet-Related Disease | Resources
A Word From Our CEO, Tiffany Benjamin
The commitment to our health equity strategy is firm and we’re immensely proud of the work we’ve achieved with our partners. Our partners are seeding sustainable impact in their communities, and we continue to support their people-centered health equity work.
As there are shifts in the external environment in terms of funding models for some nonprofits, we remain focused on serving communities– with an emphasis on scalable, metrics-driven impact. At the same time, we continue to listen. In the past few months, our listen-first approach has kept us up to date on evolving community needs and we appreciate the time partners (and potential partners) spend with us to help us to better understand how to serve the current and future needs of the people who need us most.
In the following pages, I am proud to share some significant updates and achievements including our support of Kentuckians in the wake of recent flooding. We donated $250,000 in support of relief and recovery efforts for Kentuckians impacted by destructive flooding in Eastern Kentucky. During disastrous events like this, our mission comes to the forefront, providing immediate support to address the long-term recovery needs of people and communities. Our resolve to uplift communities in crisis while improving health outcomes for all remains steadfast.
We are thankful to each organization that applied for our recent grant cycle. We are truly thankful for your time and effort in sharing your projects.
We are reviewing proposals and ensuring each project receives a thorough evaluation. Over the next several weeks we will finalize our selection of awarded grants. Together, and through your projects, we will continue to advance a brighter future for the people we serve.
We recently attended the first Face the Fight in-person meeting in San Antonio. It was energizing. And the Humana Foundation was named the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science’s (IAPHS) Member of the Month for March 2025. There is much to celebrate and more work to do!
In 2024, Humana employees dedicated more than 315,000 volunteer hours to making a difference in their communities—an 11% increase in volunteer hours from 2023. Nearly 25,000 total employees contributed their time and skills.
Together, we are making a meaningful impact.
--Tiffany Benjamin
CEO, Humana Foundation
Humana Foundation Named IAPHS’s Member of the Month (March 2025)
The Humana Foundation was named the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science’s (IAPHS) Member of the Month for March 2025.
he purpose of IAPHS is to foster scientific innovation and discovery to improve the health of populations and reduce health disparities. The mission of IAPHS is to provide a forum that will connect population health scientists across disciplines and sectors, advance the development of population health science, and promote its application. IAPHS carries out its mission by pursuing three objectives:
- Advance population health science
- Improve population health by promoting the communication and application of science
- Support population health scientists in their careers
As part of the recognition, the Humana Foundation was profiled on IAPHS’s website. The article features several key research initiatives, which are overseen by Humana Foundation Research Principal Soojin Conover, and highlights important research partnerships with studies on Nutrition Education and Security, Youth Suicide Prevention and Support for Caregivers of Seniors.
Thank you, Applicants!
The Humana Foundation extends a wholehearted “thank you” to each organization that submitted an application for our grant cycles. We are truly thankful for your time and effort in sharing your projects
We are in the process of reviewing proposals and ensuring each project receives a thorough evaluation. We will continue the process over the next several weeks to finalize our selection of awarded grants.
Stay tuned to our website and social media as we’ll highlight stories and meaningful impact in our pursuit of advancing our mission of helping veterans, seniors and school-aged children live connected, healthy lives.
Humana Foundation Donates $250,000 in Wake of Catastrophic Flooding in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. donated $250,000 in support of relief and recovery efforts for Kentuckians impacted by destructive flooding in Eastern Kentucky. Following the flooding, some areas were also hit by winter snowstorm activity.
Because of the damaging effect of the floods, the Humana Foundation is donating $250,000 to help provide instant support and address the long-term recovery needs of people and communities. Individuals will need assistance meeting basic needs including food, shelter, water and medical care. The contribution stems from the Humana Foundation’s unwavering resolve to uplift communities in crisis while improving health outcomes for all. The organizations receiving funding include:
- Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky: -$150,000 to support rebuilding of communities in Eastern Kentucky. •
- Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund: -$100,000 to support recovery of any Kentuckian impacted by recent flooding.
"Right now, and each day forward, we will work hand-in-hand with our respected allies across Kentucky to reach those in need and to help rebuild and restore hope," said Humana Foundation CEO Tiffany Benjamin.
Sharing Our Learnings
The Humana Foundation team prides itself on continuing to learn and evolve in an ever-changing philanthropic landscape. In pursuit of growth as thought leaders in the industry, staff members attend conferences and serve on critical discussion panels.
Our teammates capture important learnings from each event and publish an article with insights as part of our “Team Learnings” series on our website, HumanaFoundation.org.
We invite you to visit our website to view our individual learnings, including the most recent edition from Communications Director Marvin Hill, who shared insight from attending the annual Philanthropy Southeast Conference.
Partner Highlight: Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay
BACKGROUND: Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay utilizes volunteers aged 55+ to help address critical challenges faced by underserved children, low-income seniors, veterans and disabled adults.
THE NEWS: Supported by a Humana Foundation grant, the organization launched an inaugural veteran wellbeing event at Bahia Apartments in Tampa, Florida. The event targeted veterans who, after experiencing homelessness, now reside in affordable housing through Veterans Affairs benefits. Over the next 12 weeks, a series of six events will provide veterans with fresh produce, healthy meal-prep training, and opportunities for community connection.
WHY IT MATTERS:
- Essential Support: In partnership with Access to Fresh – a Florida nonprofit which increases access to fresh, local food – each veteran received two weeks’ worth of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Empowering Skills: Participants learned to prepare nutritious meals through a cooking lesson where they learned meal preparation and recipes with an air fryer. Each veteran then received a free air fryer for their home to continue developing healthy cooking skills.
- Strengthening Community: The event created meaningful connections among veterans. One participant nicknamed “Sarge” shared, “I haven’t been able to afford food since I moved into my apartment, and I’ve lost 30 pounds. I’m so thankful for the food you delivered. The atmosphere here (is so friendly).” Volunteers also found purpose, as Rosalind, a former Army cook, led the cooking demonstrations, while Janalee, an additional volunteer with expertise in mental health services, offered vital guidance on accessing mental health resources.
WHAT’S NEXT: This inaugural event kicked off a 12-week wellbeing program that will continue delivering nutritional and mental health resources. With the next session scheduled in the near future, Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay is set to further empower and connect the veteran community.
Tiffany Benjamin Named to Power 50
Humana Foundation CEO Tiffany Benjamin has been named to Louisville Business First’s Power 50 list, which celebrates the region’s most influential business and civic leaders.
Tiffany’s commitment to serving our communities and her exceptional leadership power our mission at the Humana Foundation. We are honored to have such an influential leader at the helm of our team.
Congratulations, Tiffany!
Giving Back to Our Communities
In 2024, Humana employees dedicated more than 315,000 volunteer hours to making a difference in their communities -- an 11% increase in volunteer hours from 2023. Nearly 25,000 total employees contributed their time and skills during the year to support causes that matter!
This remarkable level of participation reflects the Humana Foundation's commitment to strengthening communities and creating lasting impact.
Thank you, Humana employees, for your dedication to service and passion for helping others. Together, we're building stronger, healthier communities
Uniting to Prevent Veteran Suicide at Face the Fight Coalition Meeting
Humana Foundation Director of Communications Marvin Hill and CEO Tiffany Benjamin joined other industry leaders for Face the Fight’s first in-person Coalition meeting at USAA’s headquarters in San Antonio.
More than 200 members met throughout two days of programming for collaboration, strategic planning and developing real solutions to help prevent veteran suicide. The coalition’s collective goal is to reduce veteran suicide by half by 2030.
In June 2023, the Humana Foundation partnered with USAA and Reach Resilience to launch the Face the Fight campaign. Together, these organizations are reducing veteran suicide through a multi-faceted approach that includes charitable giving, public education and awareness efforts.
The founding partners, along with private organizations and donors, have pledged more than $85 million to support the Face the Fight initiative through 2027.
"Face the Fight has an ambitious goal for ambitious companies and foundations,” said Benjamin. “USAA, Reach Resilience, the Humana Foundation and others are committed to advancing major change to support our veteran population by stopping the rate of veteran suicide."
Face the Fight also published its first annual Impact Report last year, outlining key milestones achieved in the first year of this important initiative
ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT
Ebony Thomas
Tenure at Humana: 7 years, 8 months
Current Position: Senior Consumer Experience Professional
Location: Remote, FL
Ebony’s Initiative:
Ebony played a key role in supporting Caregiver’s Helping Hand, Inc.’s annual Christmas Senior Gift Baskets initiative. She collected donations, including wrapping paper, gift baskets, lotions, clothing and holiday cards for 41 local nursing homes, and helped deliver the gifts to help bring joy to those in need during the holiday season.
Food as Health: Shifting from Treatment to Prevention of Diet-Related Disease
Overcoming the systemic, structural and cultural issues that lead to poor nutrition is complex, making it even more essential for both private and public investment in food as health programs and policies that have been shown to be effective.
By Tiffany Benjamin (CEO, Humana Foundation) -- Food is a life and health-sustaining necessity. But, the diets of many Americans are making them sick. Six in ten in the U.S. have one or more diet-related chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and certain cancers, costing the nation $1.1 trillion annually. A poor-quality diet is now the leading risk factor for disability and mortality in the U.S., causing 500,000 deaths each year
Poor nutritional diets associated with chronic disease include low amounts of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fatty fish, along with high levels of processed foods high in saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, as well as sugar-sweetened beverages.
While rates of diet-related disease are high among all U.S. adults, these conditions disproportionately impact historically underserved populations, frequently as a result of health inequities. The prevalence of many of these diseases is greatest among low-income individuals, people of color and those affected by food insecurity.
[Article continued on MedCityNews.com.]
“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving”
-- Mother Teresa
Philanthropy Resources
Resource for Parents of School-Aged Children
Resource for Veterans
Resource for Seniors
Additional Resources
