CareSource Foundation announces grant challenge recipients in Northeast Florida

As top grant recipient, Episcopal Children’s Services receives $50K

(Jacksonville, April 27, 2023) – Today CareSource, a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with Florida headquarters in Jacksonville, announced the recipients of the second phase of the CareSource Foundation Florida Grant Challenge. After processing more than 11,000 votes, CareSource Foundation bestowed grants last night to 10 nonprofit organizations that serve the needs of children and their families within the Northeast, Central and Gulf Coast regions of Florida. Last night’s award ceremony featured community, nonprofit, business and health care leaders from across the state and was emceed by Stetson University Men’s Head Basketball Coach Donnie Jones.

Jacksonville-based Episcopal Children’s Services was the night’s top awardee and will apply its $50,000 CareSource Foundation Grant toward its mission of helping underserved children in Northeast and Central Florida build a strong foundation for educational success. 

In addition to Episcopal Children’s Services, the top 10 Northeast/Central/Gulf Coast Florida CareSource Foundation grantees include Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Child Cancer Fund, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, Fostering Connections, Chapters Health Systems, Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, Guardian Angels of Southwest Florida, and Metropolitan Ministries.

The CareSource Foundation Grant Challenge will award a total of $450,000 to Florida community-based organizations and nonprofits focused on demonstrating effective, practical solutions to address the needs of children and youth in medically complex care. Recently, CareSource announced 10 recipients in the Northwest/Panhandle region of Florida, where The Florida Café received $50,000 towards its mission of providing individuals with disabilities and their families with an opportunity for collaboration, advocacy, friendship and empowerment by serving as a facilitator of communication, space for dialogue and source of information. The third and final phase of the Grant Challenge will bestow additional grants to 10 recipients in South Florida next week. 

“Floridians know best which organizations are moving the needle on the intricate needs of medically complex children in their communities, so the CareSource Foundation is looking to follow their lead,” said Jenny Michael, senior vice president of advocacy at CareSource. “Our goal is to support the sustainability and expansion of their important work to improve health outcomes, health access and support for families and caregivers so these children can live their best possible life.”

Since 2006, the CareSource Foundation has awarded more than $28.5 million to nonprofits across the country that are working to eliminate poverty, provide much-needed services to low-and moderate-income families, and develop innovative approaches to address critical health issues. Florida is the fourth state where the CareSource Foundation Grant Challenge will take place.

CareSource is a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with over 2.3 million members. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio since its founding in 1989, CareSource administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. As a mission-driven organization, CareSource is transforming health care with innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, health equity, prevention and access to care.

CareSource Florida Co. was formed to offer programs and products in the state of Florida.