Building Our Future Together
2024 Community Partnerships Report
Introduction
If there’s a word that defined 2024, it’s “uncertain.” Whether in healthcare, education, public policy, or just the day-to-day lives of the people we serve — there were more questions than easy answers this year.
And yet, in the face of all that uncertainty, our partners continued to do what they always do: show up, dig in, and build. Together, we launched new initiatives, deepened relationships, and focused not just on the needs of the moment, but on the kind of future we want to create.
That’s what this report reflects. Not just a record of what we funded or where we worked, but a picture of what’s possible when we commit to doing the hard, hopeful work of building — together.
The future doesn’t arrive fully formed — it’s something we make with our choices, our courage, and our care for one another. Every grant, every partnership, every moment of trust we share is a blueprint for what comes next. So as we look ahead, we’re not just hoping for a better tomorrow — we’re helping to build it, hand in hand.
I continue to be proud of the work our partners have done. Thank you for being a part of this journey. We can’t predict what the next year holds, but we do know this: Louisiana is full of people who care deeply, lead boldly, and believe in better. That’s something worth building on.
Michael Tipton
President, Louisiana Blue Foundation
Head of Community Relations
Part 1
Improving the lives of Louisianians takes more than benefits and claims — it takes blueprints drawn in action, connection, and care. At Louisiana Blue, our commitment is sketched into the everyday choices we make to show up for our neighbors, families, and friends.
Through Team Blue, our employee-powered volunteer force, we put that commitment to work—offering time, talent, and resources to the nonprofits building a stronger, healthier Louisiana.
When our people connect to the causes they care about, something powerful happens: our mission becomes real—not just for the communities we serve, but for the people who serve them. Around here, support doesn’t stop at the checkbook. We show up with hands and hearts, ready to build what’s next.
45,000 Volunteer Hours
Across Louisiana, our employees gave their time, their talent, and their hearts — logging more than 45,000 hours of service in communities large and small. Whether rebuilding homes, mentoring students, or supporting local nonprofits, they showed up for what matters.
The Civic 50
Louisiana Blue and our Foundation were once again named to the Points of Light's The Civic 50 list - an honor naming the top 50 businesses in the United States committed to volunteerism and service. This is our sixth year in a row on the list, and we are honored to be recognized as the best in the country for connecting our business to our volunteerism and community engagement.
$50,000 in Pro Bono Services
Through our partnership with Taproot Plus, we helped over 200 Louisiana nonprofits access free expert support in HR, marketing, IT, and more — delivering $50,000 in high-impact consulting that nonprofits couldn’t otherwise afford.
$4.2 Million in Goods Given
From school supplies to disaster relief kits, Louisiana Blue employees gave $2.2 million worth of essential items to families and communities across Louisiana — meeting urgent needs and helping people stay safe, supported, and ready for what’s next.
Our employees also donated more than $2 million to support the organizations and communities working to make our state healthier and stronger.
Part 2
At Louisiana Blue, we don’t just support nonprofits — we stand beside them. For decades, we’ve partnered with organizations across the state who are on the front lines of change: tackling hunger, expanding access to care, opening doors to education, and showing up when disaster strikes.
In 2024, we invested $1.6 million in sponsorships and project funding—fueling the work of 194 organizations and 380 events in every corner of Louisiana.
What did that investment provide?
- 5,300 mammograms
- 18,000 diabetes screenings
- 17,800 mental health services
- 770,000 meals
- 14 million services provided to Louisianians
Our investments help nonprofits act on the blueprint for better health, resilience, and opportunity —for everyone.
103,000 Health Screenings
Our sponsorships helped provide thousands of free health screenings—including mammograms, diabetes checks, cholesterol and blood pressure tests, and mental health assessments — bringing vital care directly to communities that need it most.
770,000 Meals Donated
Through partnerships with food banks across the state, we helped pack and distribute 770,000 meals — ensuring Louisiana families had access to nutritious food when they needed it most.
14.5 Million Services
From health screenings to meals, mentorship, housing, education, and more — our corporate sponsorships and community investments supported over 14.5 million moments of care and connection across Louisiana. Every one of them a step toward a healthier, stronger future.
$1.6 Million in Sponsorships
We invested $1.6 million to power healthy living events, nonprofit initiatives, and community celebrations — supporting the people and programs that bring Louisiana together and help it thrive.
HIGHLIGHT
Million Meals for MLK
Louisiana Blue helped launch the Million Meals for MLK initiative alongside Volunteer Louisiana and Feeding Louisiana — rallying individuals and companies to Serve, Share, and Support in honor of Dr. King’s legacy
Part 3
The Louisiana Blue Foundation is a nonprofit committed to improving the conditions that shape health across our state—from access to education and safe housing to economic opportunity and community connection.
We invest in grassroots leaders, bold ideas, and powerful partnerships—amplifying the everyday efforts of people working to make Louisiana a healthier, more equitable place to live. During 2024, we provided more than $3 million in grants supporting these efforts.
We’re also proud to carry forward The Angel Award®, a legacy program that honors individuals doing extraordinary good for Louisiana’s children. Each honoree receives a $30,000 grant for the nonprofit of their choice, helping their impact reach even further.
New Horizons
Grants for New Ideas
New Horizons grants back bold, innovative ideas aimed at solving Louisiana’s toughest health challenges—creating fresh pathways toward stronger, healthier communities.
- Dillard University to establish a Student Health Education Corps to empower students in chronic disease prevention and management in surrounding communities.
- VIA Link to reduce postpartum crises by training healthcare providers to identify and address postpartum mental health risks in high-risk parishes.
- Mental Health Association to expand The Fisher Project through a feasibility study to improve youth mental health and prevent suicide statewide.
- HER Institute to strengthen breastfeeding initiatives for vulnerable groups by identifying best practices and creating a strategic plan for birthing hospitals.
- Heart Sense to pilot AI-driven technology to diagnose chronic heart disease in underserved communities, screening 700 at-risk individuals.
- Louisiana Families for Vaccines to conduct focus groups to assess vaccine barriers among the new parents in Lake Charles and develop statewide strategies.
- Jump Start Your Heart, Inc. to develop a statewide CPR/AED training program to implement the Jump Start Your Heart Act.
Special Projects
Grants to Grow Impact
These one-time investments help organizations scale what’s working — providing the boost they need to grow their impact and reach more people across Louisiana.
- City Year Baton Rouge to expand services to help more K-2 students read on grade level.
- Feeding Louisiana to establish the NourishLine to provide multilingual, centralized access to health and nutrition resources for low-income residents.
- Launch to create a support fund to cover services denied to children due to authorization denials or policy limits.
- Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans, Inc. to establish a statewide resource hub to support Early Childhood Education leaders and increase high-quality ECE seats.
- The United Hands Youth Center to implement the PLAAY program to provide culturally competent trauma responses to children and communities.
- Market Umbrella to expand Greaux the Good, a statewide nutrition incentive program, to an additional rural parish.
- Operation Restoration to pilot a program to expand short- and long-term housing solutions for individuals facing housing insecurity.
- STRIVE Career Path to provide no-cost training, certification, and job placement assistance in non-clinical healthcare fields for 75 low-income residents.
- Policy Institute for the Children of Louisiana to expand communications to ensure more families opt into Family Connects New Orleans services.
- Martin Luther King Health Center to expand access to diabetes prevention and self-management education to reduce risks for underserved adults.
- LSU Foundation/ School of Social Work to engage high school seniors from underserved communities and communities of color, particularly in Southwest Louisiana, in exploring mental health careers.
- SWLA AHEC to increase access to health and social services for high-risk patients by integrating community health workers in 400+ rural facilities.
- Louisiana Public Health Institute to establish a Doula Integration Community of Practice to improve maternal care coordination through sustainable system changes.
- City of DeRidder to increase community walking trail usage by 25% to promote health and wellness.
Collective Impact
Grants for Health Coalitions
These grants fuel community coalitions — groups of partners working together across sectors to tackle deep-rooted health challenges with shared goals and coordinated action.
- FranU to increase awareness of allied health careers by 90% among high school students in underserved communities through hands-on dual enrollment courses.
Along with this new grant, we have several active healthcare workforce grants continuing to address nursing and other health workforce shortages. During 2024 we saw:
- A growing focus of this work on mental health and additional health roles that extend care or reach new populations.
- Measurable progress through Health Rankings, where Healthcare Workforce was highlighted as a bright-spot for Louisiana throughout the year.
- Our work on this issue highlighted as one of the most innovative efforts internationally for a business-related Foundation.
Other Grants Awarded
In addition to our core grant programs, the Louisiana Blue Foundation provides targeted funding to meet emerging needs and strengthen the organizations driving change. We offer a limited number of capacity-building grants to support Angel Award honorees and their nonprofits—helping them grow their leadership, operations, and long-term impact.
We also develop strategic grants in partnership with community leaders, proactively investing in solutions that align with the Foundation’s priorities and the evolving needs of Louisiana’s people.
- Fathers on a Mission to provide internal training to expand Project Family Build, connecting fathers to resources to improve their families.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana to strengthen internal training to enhance team performance, volunteer engagement, and youth support.
- Conscious Moms to pilot a peer support program to assist moms with maternal health needs in North Baton Rouge.
- Survivor's Cancer Action Network (SCAN) to create a social network to unite cancer survivors, patients, and providers to improve cancer care outcomes in Louisiana.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Association to develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure continued growth for this community resource organization.
HIGHLIGHT
Mary's Hands Network
Mary’s Hands is a volunteer doula network based in Baton Rouge, ensuring that every pregnant woman — no matter her background — has access to compassionate, culturally competent care and support through every stage of her journey.
Part 4
About The Angel Award
To live healthy lives, children need safe places to live, learn and play. They need access to healthy food, guidance and educational opportunities. Across Louisiana, there are thousands of children without access to the support they need to thrive.
Thankfully, there are also thousands of everyday people working to make a difference in the lives of children.
The Angel Award® honors everyday people doing extraordinary good to meet the physical, emotional, creative or spiritual needs of Louisiana’s kids. Since 1995, the Foundation has recognized more than 200 of these outstanding individuals.
Kimberly Evans Novod
Saul’s Light | New Orleans
Kimberly Evans Novod is the founder of Saul’s Light, a nonprofit named in memory of her son, Saul, which provides support and community to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) – an experience that can otherwise take a lifetime emotional and financial toll on them
Kathy Coleman
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana | Baton Rouge
Kathy Coleman is the volunteer executive director of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana, which provides support and resources to families with children in the care of grandparents or other family besides parents, ensuring they have everything they need to thrive.
Hillary Sirmon
Miracles to Milestones | Monroe
Hillary Sirmon is the founder of Miracles to Milestones, which honors the memory of Simon’s son, Benjamin, by building inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities can play together
Caryl Ewing
Pointe Coupee Early Childhood Coalition | New Roads
Caryl Ewing is a board member of the Pointe Coupee Early Childhood Coalition, which strives to ensure all young children in the area have access to the highest quality development and education programs, which helps them get a better start during a critical window for human development.
Jamon Turner
Just Believe Training | Haughton
Jamon Turner is the Founder of Just Believe Training, where he employs agricultural programs and horse therapy to inspire and empower children, giving them access to community and career paths in one of Louisiana’s largest industries
Dr. Annie W. Spell
Hearts of Hope | Lafayette
Dr. Annie W. Spell is a longtime volunteer and board member at Hearts of Hope, Acadiana’s only sexual trauma center, providing services for both child and adult victims
Blue Angel: Erin Powell
Project 2.5+ | Monroe
Erin Powel is a pharmacist in Louisiana Blue’s Medication Adherence division. Powell is also the founder of Project 2.5+, a storehouse that collects items and raises funds to provide foster children and their families with personal items such as toys, clothes, and hygiene products.
Aaron Frumin
unCommon Construction | New Orleans
Aaron Frumin is the founder and CEO of unCommon Construction, where young people learn skills, earn certifications, and get experience to become workforce leaders in building and construction, providing a path to economic freedom and generational wealth
Erin Davison
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana | Lake Charles
Erin Davison is the former CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, the regions largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, connecting each child with a positive role-model to be their friend, mentor, and champion
To see videos and learn more about our 2024 Angel Award honorees, visit www.AngelAwardLA.com
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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