Meadowlands Chamber (MC) member Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI) is among the 34 nonprofits awarded grants from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ), also a member of the MC.
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the nonprofit arm for Horizon BCBSNJ, announced on Monday (Jan. 9) that it awarded BVMI, headquartered in Hackensack, a $90,000 grant. BVMI will use the funds to help support the health clinic’s diabetes prevention, education and monitoring program. The new prevention program will be offered in English and Spanish to low-income, uninsured, pre-diabetic and diabetic patients who live across northern New Jersey.
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey awarded more than $1 million in grants in the fourth quarter of 2022, bringing the year’s total to $2.14 million. All told, 67 groups benefited from grants last year. Grant applications for April 18 consideration are due on Jan. 30.
BVMI is also planning to use the grant monies from Horizon BCBSNJ to help support the opening of a second healthcare clinic in Garfield on Midland Avenue. BVMI’s new center in Garfield is part of the Unity Health Partnership, a larger health and wellness initiative launched in conjunction with Greater Bergen Community Action (also a member of MC).
Garfield was identified as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA). The project received $1.5 million in federal funding, which was awarded to Greater Bergen County Action.
Aside from BVMI and Greater Bergen Community Action, the Unity Health Partnership includes the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the Garfield Health Department, Mid Bergen Regional Health Commission, CBH Care, Generations for Garfield, and North Hudson Community Action.
