RELEASE
‘Creating Community Connections and Spaces’ Grant Funding to Improve Health, Well-Being for Washtenaw Co. Older Adults
Erica Stamatoulakis
| 4 min read
DETROIT, Feb. 23, 2023 – Four Washtenaw County-based organizations were awarded grant funding designed to support the health and well-being for older adults by enhancing facilities, accessibility and services within their local communities, including intergenerational programming. A collective $670,000 was awarded throughout a three-year program named Creating Community Connections and Spaces. Funding partners include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation.
Development of the Creating Community Connections and Spaces program included a yearlong engagement project with rural and urban older adults to determine what they felt was needed to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Respondents identified the need for creative spaces to be able to congregate as well as services such as transportation and access to technology, and enrichment programming like social gatherings and meals. One-third of focus group respondents identified as low-income and 14% of respondents identified as disabled.
“Blue Cross joins the shared enthusiasm in the impact the Creating Community Connections and Spaces program will make in improving the quality of life for older adults in Washtenaw County,” said Ken Hayward, vice president and special assistant to the president for Community Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “We realize the challenges older adults face impeding their care and health outcomes, and hope this program will offer unique solutions to help break the socioeconomic barriers in place for these communities.”
The increase in the number of older adults in the U.S. is unprecedented. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, Washtenaw County has an estimated 370,963 residents, 72,194 of whom are 60 years older (19.5%) and 51,775 of whom are 65 years of age and older (13.9%). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, 54.1 million U.S. adults were 65 or older, representing 16% of the population. By 2040, the number is expected to reach 80.8 million. Adults over the age of 65 are more likely to encounter diseases related to aging, such as Alzheimer’s disease or more advanced chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Mobility issues are also a major concern as falls are the leading cause of injury and death in older adults, according to the CDC.
"After hearing from our community's older adults where they felt impact was needed, we felt empowered to move forward with this grant opportunity,” said Chris Lemon, senior community investment officer at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.
“The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation is very excited to travel with these four organizations over the next three years as their projects grow into community based solutions,” said Shannon Polk, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. “We are also very grateful to be able to fund these projects alongside Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, recognizing that collaborative funding helps to deepen impact and builds toward sustainability."
“The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation is excited to work alongside these organizations in their efforts to assist at-risk older adults who need higher levels of support, enrichment and overall health security,” said Audrey Harvey, executive director and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. “The objective of Creating Community Connections and Spaces aligns with our partners in ensuring persons of all ages and backgrounds are offered equitable opportunities to lead healthier lives.”
Creating Community Connections and Spaces program awards began in 2023 and will conclude in 2026. Organizations awarded grant funding include:
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MIBluesPerspectives.com. For more on the BCBSM Foundation, visit bcbsm.com/foundation.
About the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) is a philanthropic organization with a broad community focus: enriching the quality of life in Washtenaw County. AAACF enriches the quality of life in our region through its knowledgeable leadership, engaged grantmaking, and creative partnerships with donors to make philanthropic investments and build endowment.
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) is a philanthropic organization with a broad community focus: enriching the quality of life in Washtenaw County. AAACF enriches the quality of life in our region through its knowledgeable leadership, engaged grantmaking, and creative partnerships with donors to make philanthropic investments and build endowment.
