As a key player in the quality and health of our community, the PHP Foundation embraces our role as a corporate citizen committed to a healthier community. Through philanthropic activities and support of targeted community health initiatives, many local charitable organizations rely on PHP and the PHP Foundation for a significant portion of funding. As health and well-being continue to be a growing concern for our community and state, charitable health organizations and free clinics are the only hope of assistance for many families with limited financial resources.
To compound the situation, charitable organizations are struggling, both for funding and trained volunteers, as they work to answer an increasing demand for services. Consistent and dependable long-term funding is critical to their ability to answer growing needs. In PHP’s long-held tradition of providing access to high-quality healthcare, the PHP Foundation was established in 2006 to make the same high-quality care available to those most in need—the uninsured and underinsured.
A separate entity focused on providing consistent and reliable funding
Jay Gilbert, former PHP President and CEO, along with Randy Kummer, former VP and CFO, suggested the formation of a PHP foundation in 2006, created as a separate legal entity from the PHP Corporation. The goal of this decision was to ensure reliable and consistent funding to charitable agencies regardless of PHP’s financial success year over year. These financial gifts to the community are awarded through the Foundation, not directly from PHP’s day-to-day operations, thus severing any ties or ability to affect PHP’s fees and contracts. As a result, charitable organizations in our community receive stable funding from the PHP Foundation.
PHP Foundation partners with The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation for the grant review process, which provides research and a deep understanding of current community needs and pockets of underfunding. St. Joseph Community Health Foundation provides objective and thorough feedback and has helped the PHP Foundation make strategic funding decisions offering greater impact.
Since 2006, the PHP Foundation has provided funding to more than 40 agencies and granted more than $10 million in support to area organizations including: Matthew 25, Super Shot, Maple City Health Care Center, Neighborhood Health, Community Transportation Network, Positive Resource Connection, and others.
Making grant-giving more meaningful
Several years ago, PHP Foundation began a practice of visiting Foundation grant recipient organizations and handing the grant award over personally. Dr. Wehrenberg, president of the Foundation board since 2014, commented that, “Visiting these agencies, seeing the work they do and the families they serve, made the Foundation’s mission much more tangible and meaningful to me.” One agency was particularly memorable: Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities. The strategic way Turnstone maximizes their facilities and services for their own clients as well as the community at large benefits their clients and our community in a very impactful way. Turnstone has brought national attention to this region and truly lives their mission of empowering people to achieve their highest potential based on their personal abilities.
Jim Wehrenberg and Mike Mushett, CEO, Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
Also, the Lutheran Agency for Missions to Burmese (LAMB), showed Dr. Wehrenberg how a small grant can be useful when spread over an entire neighborhood. LAMB has a strong community presence and cares for the health and wellness needs of a significant Burmese population in Allen County with the help of many devoted volunteers. A resident physician oversees health needs, oftentimes visiting neighbors in their homes and even on the streets in their neighborhood.
Lutheran Agency for Missions to Burmese (LAMB) provides meals, education, and support.
Dr. Wehrenberg states, “Serving on the PHP Foundation board and visiting agencies has been very satisfying and meaningful to me. The good that PHP, as a corporation, has done for the community is extended through the PHP Foundation. PHP and the Foundation’s efforts toward universal good and promotion of human welfare is humbling at many levels.”
Taking care of the communities we serve
PHP is committed to caring for our members and our communities by partnering with area charitable organizations and healthcare providers. Our relationships and deep understanding of our community and healthcare systems increase PHP‘s financial efficiencies and benefit our region and our relationships with hospitals, clinics, and doctors give us a unique advantage over national insurance carriers. Sharing corporate resources, knowledge and connections helps guide the PHP Foundation. In turn, the Foundation’s targeted community health initiatives help make our community a better place to live, work, and play.
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