Edition: Q2 | 2026
Edition: Q2 | 2026
© Humana 2026
Tiffany Benjamin
CEO, Humana Foundation
At the Humana Foundation, we often talk about the power of connection. This quarter, I saw that power reflected in countless ways through the partners, volunteers, associates, researchers and community leaders who are working every day to improve health and well-being.
One of the moments that stands out most is the announcement of more than $12.2 million in grants supporting emotional well-being. These investments will help address loneliness, depression and social isolation among seniors and veterans while supporting research that deepens our understanding of what helps people thrive. As our population ages and emotional health challenges continue to affect communities across the country, we remain committed to supporting solutions that strengthen connection, belonging and hope.
That commitment is also reflected in the conversations we are helping lead and the partnerships we continue to strengthen. From sharing new insights on senior emotional health in Florida to discussing youth mental health and suicide prevention through opportunities like the IU College Insider podcast, we are working alongside community leaders, researchers and advocates to advance solutions that put people at the center of better health. We also continue to support veterans through initiatives that build connection and strengthen support networks, recognizing that no one should face life's challenges alone.
This quarter also reminded us what generosity looks like in action. Through Double Match Day, Humana and CenterWell employees donated more than $1.4 million to nonprofit organizations across the country in just 24 hours. Their generosity, combined with the volunteer efforts we see throughout the year, demonstrates the impact that is possible when people come together in service of others.
We also celebrated a remarkable leader and cherished friend of the Foundation. Heidi Margulis recently concluded an extraordinary chapter of service on the Humana Foundation Board, capping a career that has shaped Humana, advanced public health, strengthened the University of Louisville and enriched our broader community.
As I look ahead, I am filled with gratitude. Thank you for being part of this work and for believing in a future where every person has the opportunity tolive a healthier, more connected life. Together, we are building that future one relationship, one partnership and one act of service at a time.
Applications for the 2026 cohort of the Humana Foundation’s Senior Council are due July 15.
Are you looking for a meaningful way to serve your community? Consider joining our Senior Council!
We are recruiting community-minded individuals, including high school juniors and seniors, college freshmen and sophomores, and adults age 65 and older. This volunteer advisory group of 12–15 members provides valuable input to help advance the Foundation’s health equity mission.
Eligible applicants must live in Florida, Louisiana, Louisville (KY), or Texas. Don’t miss this opportunity to make an impact. Applications are due July 15.
Fill out the application
Congratulations to Heidi Margulis on an incredible career with Humana and the University of Louisville! And thank you, Heidi, for helping guide the Humana Foundation’s strategic direction and vision as a valued board member.
In Heidi's honor, we’re proud to establish the Heidi S. Margulis Scholarship to support undergraduate students at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
We wish Heidi all the best in her next chapter and look forward to the continued impact she will make!
The IU College Insider podcast explores how research, teaching, and hands-on learning are making a real-world impact in communities and beyond.
Humana Foundation CEO Tiffany Benjamin (IU alumna, B.A. ’02) recently joined the IU College of Arts and Sciences’ IU College Insider podcast to discuss how schools and communities can support youth mental health and suicide prevention.
In the conversation, Tiffany discussed how expanding access to mental health support and prevention remains a key focus of the Foundation’s work.
Listen to the podcast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) for the past 45 years, today announced its first slate of 2026 grants, dedicating over $12.2 million to programs and research focused on emotional well-being. The funding will support 13 nonprofit organizations and five university research teams focused on combating loneliness, depression and social isolation among seniors and veterans nationwide.
The 2026 national grants scale the Foundation’s proven interventions to end senior loneliness by fostering social engagement and building community solutions. With major investments in organizations like
“Loneliness isn’t something we have to accept as a natural part of aging; it's a public health crisis we can actively solve,” said Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of the Humana Foundation. “We're investing in the local leaders and innovative researchers building social connections that lead to healthier, more joyful lives for our loved ones and neighbors as they grow older.”
Florida is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing senior populations in the country, with one in three residents projected to be over 60 by 2050. The Humana Foundation recently published a new issue brief that highlights a growing but often overlooked challenge: the emotional health of older adults. More than 12% of Florida seniors are diagnosed with depression, and hospitalizations tied to mental health conditions have climbed 16% in just two years.
The brief also underscores significant disparities. Seniors in rural areas, women, and those with lower incomes or mobility limitations face higher rates of depression, while White older men have the highest suicide rates in the state. Hispanic seniors also experience elevated rates of depression compared to their White peers.
Despite the need, many older adults encounter barriers to care, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, stigma, and the misconception that depression is a normal part of aging.
The report calls for coordinated action to strengthen access to care, expand geriatric mental health expertise, invest in community supports, and scale solutions that reduce isolation and improve connection for Florida’s aging population.
We invite you to read the full Issue Brief and At a Glance summary for deeper insights:
A volunteer at Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay helps a senior at the facility prepare a nutritious smoothie.
The Humana Foundation’s work in Tampa comes to life through its partnership with Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay. This video highlights “Operation: Veteran Connect,” a peer-driven program where veterans support one another through connection, community, and shared experience.
Featuring volunteers, partners, and Foundation leadership, the video offers a look at how this work is strengthening community and advancing health equity for veterans. We invite you to watch the video to see our mission in action.
Watch the video
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Humana and CenterWell employees combined to donate more than $1.4 million to nonprofit organizations in just 24 hours during the Humana Foundation’s annual Double Match Day in April. During the event, more than 1,600 employees donated to a total of 1,650 nonprofits across the United States to support their communities.
Since 2022, Humana and the Humana Foundation have contributed a combined $5.9 million in matching donations during Double Match Day.
“Our employees consistently show up for the communities they call home, and Double Match Day is a powerful example of that commitment,” said Jim Rechtin, president and CEO of Humana. “The generosity of Humana and CenterWell teammates reflects our shared purpose and their commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives.”
Double Match Day is the signature initiative for the Humana Foundation’s yearlong matching donations program. Throughout the year, employees can maximize charitable gifts to their communities through a one-to-one match by the Humana Foundation. However, on Double Match Day, the Humana Foundation doubles the impact during a 24-hour span to offer two-to-one matching of employee donations. The result is one of the most impactful days of giving for our employees.
“Measurement isn’t just about frameworks or tools. It’s about what becomes possible for the organizations doing the work every day,” writes Danielle Neveles-McGrath in the article.
In our latest “Forward Thinking” article, Humana Foundation Chief Impact Officer Danielle Neveles-McGrath shares what partners in Louisiana are seeing firsthand - how evaluation helps organizations understand what works, make real-time decisions, elevate community voice, and strengthen sustainability.
Danielle also highlights what funders can do to ensure measurement supports learning and longterm impact.
Read the article
ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT
Tenure at Humana: 5 years
Current Role: Senior Systems Engineer
Location: Louisville, KY
Andrew’s Initiative: Andrew led a Tech Strat volunteer team for Metro United Way’s Day(s) of Action, coordinating participation across shifts on June 3rd, 2026. The team helped prep, pack and distribute thousands of backpacks and snack kits, supporting over 30 nonprofits and advancing the “Thriving Kids” mission through hands-on service benefiting the Greater Louisville community.
BACKGROUND: Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen connects students and families to nutritious food through immersive, garden-to-table experiences. By transforming school spaces into hands-on environments, the program blends culinary training, gardening, and nutrition education to help students build lifelong healthy habits, especially in under-resourced communities with limited access to fresh food.
THE NEWS: With support from the Humana Foundation, the program is expanding to LarkdaleElementary in Broward County Public Schools, the nation’s sixth-largest district. Serving approximately 424 K–5 students, over 96% of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the school will transform its garden into an outdoor classroom and upgrade its culinary space into a teaching kitchen, creating a complete garden-to-table experience while extending engagement through family-focused initiatives.
WHY IT MATTERS:
“The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive”
—Albert Einstein
Resources for Parents of School-Aged Children
Resources for Veterans
Resources for Seniors
Additional Resources