NASHVILLE – Oasis Center – an organization providing residential, counseling and youth engagement services in Nashville – has been awarded $100,000 as the winner of the first Humana Communities Benefit grant in the city. Humana Communities Benefit, a charitable program by health benefits company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), is designed to give local not-for-profits a one-time infusion of funding to create new programs or enhance ongoing activities that address the health and education needs of local residents.
For the Oasis Center, the grant from Humana will strengthen the Oasis Bike Workshop and Fitness program for low-income youth in Nashville. The Workshop trains young people to rebuild and maintain bicycles, and it promotes bicycling use and safety in their neighborhoods.
The Bike Workshop is a collaboration with Halcyon Bike Shop. Volunteer mentors work side-by-side with the youth to transform bikes to meet their individual needs. Participants also learn how to safely access and navigate Nashville’s growing number of bicycle lanes and greenways. Recently, Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing joined the Bike Workshop to complement the fitness program with a healthy lifestyles curriculum.
“The Bike Workshop is forever changed by this grant,” said Hal Cato, CEO for Oasis Center. “Our immediate plans include renovating the current Workshop space, which is in desperate need of the basics, such as plumbing, heating and cooling. We’re also going to be able to create a mobile Workshop to take into the most at-risk areas of Nashville.”
“The Bike Workshop is a natural fit for Humana because we have our own initiative to encourage cycling (Freewheelin),” said C. Evans Looney, president of Humana in Tennessee and North Mississippi. “We support these programs because physical activity is good for the body and the mind. I especially appreciate the Oasis Workshop for incorporating away for these youth to ‘pass along’ their new skills and passion for cycling.”
A panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives worked with Humana to select the $100,000 grant recipient. Finalists made a formal presentation before the panel of judges.
Over the past year, Humana has invested $165,000 in local agencies. In addition to the Humana Communities Benefit grants, the company made a $50,000 contribution to the national telethon to raise money for Nashville’s flood-relief efforts.
For more information on the Humana Communities Benefit program in Nashville, visit www.humana.com/HCB. Questions can also be directed to Humana at 615-221-2155, press 1 and then enter extension 1030660 or email hcbnashville@humana.com.
About Humana Communities Benefit
Humana Communities Benefit is designed to give local, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations the opportunity to receive a one-time grant to create new programs or enhance ongoing activities in the areas of:
Humana Communities Benefit is designed to give local, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations the opportunity to receive a one-time grant to create new programs or enhance ongoing activities in the areas of:• Childhood health and education: Projects or initiatives that seek to improve health and academic achievement of children through the educational landscape
• Family wellness and active lifestyles: Projects or initiatives that strengthen the health of family through physical, social, mental, emotional, or environmental support
• Health literacy for diverse populations and seniors: Projects or initiatives dedicated to improving people’s ability to access, understand, and use health information, especially low-income populations, and seniors
Although this is the inaugural year for the program in Nashville, the program also provides grant assistance in nine other areas: Atlanta, Arizona, Chicago, Greater Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, New Orleans and Utah. Visit www.humana.com/HCB for more information.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.1 million medical members and approximately 7 million specialty-benefit members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals. Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana is one of the largest health benefits plans in the state of Louisiana with approximately 80,000 commercial medical members and more than 115,000 Medicare members. Over its 49-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s Website at www.humana.com.
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.1 million medical members and approximately 7 million specialty-benefit members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals. Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana is one of the largest health benefits plans in the state of Louisiana with approximately 80,000 commercial medical members and more than 115,000 Medicare members. Over its 49-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s Website at .