Practicing What We Preach: A Hands-On Approach to Giving Back

A commitment to giving back starts with me and I am blessed to have the opportunity to give back at work, in my role with the Humana Foundation, and in my personal endeavors. I’m committed to helping the young people in my community reach their full potential and as a longtime board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana, I continually fulfill my passions and commitment. 

The Humana Foundation is committed to advancing health equity by eliminating unjust, avoidable and unnecessary barriers in health and healthcare. One way we do this is by providing grants to organizations and researchers working to achieve health equity for seniors, school-aged children and veterans. While this is an important and critical part of our work, I also find volunteering and being on the ground in the communities we serve particularly meaningful.

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS). Earlier this month, the Humana Foundation team visited the OATS Senior Planet center in Miami and volunteered to answer technology questions posed by seniors. During the pandemic, the Humana Foundation awarded a $3 million grant to OATS from AARP to connect seniors, particularly those in marginalized communities, to the internet. Since then, that partnership has evolved to produce a comprehensive research report, Fly Like an Eagle: Measuring Transformational Social Outcomes Among Seniors Using Technology, which found that digital training can significantly decrease feelings of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Connecting with the seniors during our time in Miami and helping to improve their digital literacy helped underscore why this work is so important.

Dare to Care Food Bank Community Kitchen. Last year, the Humana Foundation provided a $1.8 million grant to Dare to Care to close gaps in access to nutritious food for seniors in Louisville. The Humana Foundation team rolled up its sleeves to volunteer at Dare to Care’s Food Distribution Center, where we prepped food for delivery to be taken directly to people in need in the community. Lack of access to nutritious foods can limit older adults’ ability to work, carry on with daily activities, manage chronic conditions and live independently, underscoring the importance of closing the gaps in access to healthy meals.

Since 2019, Humana employees have volunteered more than 1.3 million hours in their communities. Interacting with the communities we serve and volunteering with the organizations we’ve partnered with have been incredibly meaningful in seeing the impact on the unmet needs we’re working to address.

To learn more about our employee volunteering benefits, click here.