HealthforAll of Western New York, Inc. is at a critical juncture.  Support from the WNY Legislative Delegation played a key role in HealthforAll’s ability to secure over $2 million dollars in grant funds to design our main initiative “Healthy Western New York”.

 

As you are aware, the hallmark of “Healthy Western New York” is to make health insurance more affordable for low-income working people, who make up the largest proportion of the uninsured population.  HealthforAll recognizes the challenge a three-year, $10 million request presents to the Delegation.  However, without initial subsidy funds, HealthforAll will lose its grant funding.  Your expeditious commitment of $2 million will allow HealthforAll to launch “Healthy Western New York” and prevent the loss of its grant funds.

 

HealthforAll has built the foundation for long-term corporate sponsorships to replace initial subsidy funds with Board Members from Rich Products, Try-it Distributing and Coca-Cola.  Community Wealth Ventures (CWV), a nationally recognized expert in corporate partnerships and cause marketing, completed a study that demonstrates the feasibility of this economic stimulus plan. 

 

In the last two years, HealthforAll also brought additional community partners to its Board of Directors, with representatives from Univera, Independent Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of WNY, Kaleida Health Care System, Catholic Health System, Lake Plains Community Care Network and the Chautauqua County Health Network, to develop “Healthy Western New York” into the leading source of health insurance for the working uninsured.  In addition, the NYS Department of Insurance is ready to provide their expertise and guidance in making “Healthy Western New York” a success.

 

As a member of the WNY Legislative Delegation, your commitment to securing $2 million is essential.   It will guarantee continuation of HealthforAll’s grant funds and supply the power to launch “Healthy Western New York” - a model for every community prepared to redistribute the financial responsibility for insuring working New Yorkers.

 

 

Best of health,

 

 

 

Amber Slichta, Executive Director

HealthforAll of WNY, Inc.

(716) 898-4743

 

 

Cc:   Terry Stoller, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Paul Hogan, Oishei Foundation

Tom Faber, Gebbie Foundation

HealthforAll Board of Directors

 

 

Rich Entertainment Group, Director of National Account Services – Mr. Jim Bower – President

Resources for Aging, President – Ms. Sherry Fleckenstein – Vice President

Lake Plains Community Care Network, CEO – Dr. Kenneth L. Oakley – Treasurer

Try-It Distributing, VP Operations – Mr. Bob Kolasa – Secretary

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Senior VP – Nora McGuire

Catholic Health System, Senior VP for Mission Integration – Sister Sally Maloney

Chautauqua County Health Network – Ms. Sharon Mathe 

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Buffalo, General Sales Manager – Mr. Rick Horn

Coordinated Care Mgt Corp, President – Mr. James Totaro

Erie County Dept of Social Services, – Asst. Deputy Commissioner – Ms. Christine Bush

Erie County Health Department, Junior Executive Assistant – Mr. Gary Wolfe

Friends of the Night People, CEO – Mr. Darren Strickland

Independent Health Association, Executive VP/General Counsel – Mr. Fred Cohen

Jamestown Primary Care, Medical Director – Dr. Rudolph Mueller

Kaleida Health, Vice President – Mr. Andres Garcia

Living Prime Time, Publisher – Mr. Jerry Flaschner

MOCHA Men of Color Health Association, Client Services Coordinator – Mr. Reginald Griggs

Niagara Health Quality Coalition, Executive Director – Mr. Bruce Boissonnault

Rich Products Corporation, Strategic Sourcing Team Leader – Theodore Rich

SUNY at Buffalo, Dept. of Family Medicine, Chair – Dr. Thomas Rosenthal

SUNY at Buffalo, Dept. of Family Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor – Dr. Chet Fox

Univera Health Care, VP, Government Affairs – Ms. Valerie J. Rosenhoch