Community Impact

Addressing Hunger and Nutrition

Recognizing the essential role of nutritious food in all aspects of life, HCSC supported 27 food banks in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas through an investment in Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

The $650,000 investment is helping these critical front-line organizations hire and train staff, source protein and fresh produce, implement healthy eating guidelines and build intercultural competency so they’re able to meet the food needs of their neighbors. 

Our plans and employees in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas helped people facing hunger with additional grants and volunteer work. 

In Texas, for example, Nourish program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is showing people how to grow, prepare and promote food that supports lifelong health and well-being.

Global Gardens empowers low-income students in Oklahoma plan and cultivate their own gardens, promoting nutrition and positive health outcomes.

In Illinois, the Little Village Community Foundation’s Cocina Rx received a grant to distribute medically tailored meals via home delivery, retail stores and other channels. The program also provides online nutrition counseling and virtual and in-person cooking classes. Global Gardens in Tulsa, Oklahoma, received a grant to advance its work aimed at transforming generational eating habits.

Our New Mexico employees delivered $20,000 in food to tribal communities in Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. Each of the nearly 1,000 food bags contained an assortment of healthy, non-perishable items to help with food insecurity during the colder months. “As a tribal liaison covering the Navajo chapters, I travel through a lot of these areas and I know how isolated they are,” says Julia Platero, a community outreach specialist with HCSC’s New Mexico health plan.

Boosting Economic Security and Opportunity

We continue to make business investments in our communities, providing new sources of jobs, community resources and economic activity. In Chicago, our facility in the Morgan Park neighborhood combines HCSC workspace with a neighborhood center, providing as many as 550 jobs along with public access to no-cost activities, education and other resources that support health and well-being. In October, HCSC and the Corporate Coalition of Chicago welcomed business leaders to the Morgan Park facility to encourage them to deploy their core business functions to drive economic opportunity in historically overlooked communities and improve equity in the region. 

Our Texas plan last year marked 25 years since opening customer service centers in Abilene and Marshall. Together, these centers employ about 1,700 people and play a key role in supporting more than 6 million members.

They train and employ customer advocates, claims adjusters and case managers, who are typically registered nurses or nurse practitioners. “Twenty-five years adds up to a great boost in local employment, wages and the tax base,” said Rush Harris, executive director of the Marshall Economic Development Corporation. “We are better because of it.”

The economic vitality of our communities also relies on opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to learn about and pursue careers. 

Our plan in Montana invested in the Piikuni Lands Service Corps, a partnership between the Montana Conservation Corps and the Blackfeet Nation that’s helping Native youths and young adults develop conservation and leadership skills. In Oklahoma, our plan continued a longstanding partnership with the University of Tulsa Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, which develops young leaders to tackle health disparities in Oklahoma.

In Chicago, our Illinois plan’s Institute for Physician Diversity invited high school students to learn about the many possible career paths in health care from some of our doctors and nurses, who volunteered their time to share their personal stories. “Before I went to college, I actually had not seen a physician who looked like me,” said Dr. Derek Robinson, vice president and chief medical officer for the Illinois division. 

Many other investments in 2022 supported organizations dedicated to providing basic economic security for members of our communities facing difficult circumstances. In Illinois, the Phoenix Center in Springfield is expanding housing for people with HIV or in the LGBTQ community without a safe place to live. Executive Director Jonna Cooley says funding from our Illinois plan will allow the organization to help more people thrive in a supportive and safe environment, no matter how long they stay. “It’s refreshing to see people get the things they need,” Cooley says. “This gives people an opportunity to be who they really are.”

In New Mexico, a grant helped Rebuilding Together Sandoval County (RTSC) provide critical home repairs for low-income homeowners in Sandoval County. The nonprofit corrects significant housing deficiencies, eliminate safety hazards, and create healthier environments for families. “We were in a real dilemma with the leaking roof, and I can’t express how much you helped us,” said a Rio Rancho homeowner. “The positive impact from this program is huge.”

Expanding Access to Fitness

Regular physical activity can help people reduce the impact of several chronic illnesses, improve mental health, and reduce their overall health care costs.

In early 2022, HCSC committed $850,000 to bring 35 outdoor fitness courts to communities across Illinois and Texas in collaboration with National Fitness Campaign.

The initiative is providing free access to exercise space and structures designed for use by people of all ages and ability levels. “I'm excited because I need to get in shape, and this is free,” says Cynthia Gilmore, who attended an event unveiling a fitness court in Riverdale, Illinois. “I walk my community all the time. And so now I can walk and stop, workout on the fitness court, and then continue on my day.”