The WellSky Foundation Contributes $50,000 to Black Women’s Health Imperative, Investing in Health Equity for Black Women and Girls

This partnership will address existing challenges and health disparities facing Black women and support their long-term, continued wellness as BWHI celebrates its 38-year anniversary

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today the WellSky Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for vulnerable populations, announced it has donated $50,000 to the Black Women’s Health Imperative, the first nonprofit organization created by Black women to help protect and advance the health and wellness of Black women and girls. Through this donation, the WellSky Foundation is supporting Black women’s right to live happy, healthy, and long lives.

“The Black Women’s Health Imperative is the oldest and only national organization focused on Black women’s physical, emotional, and financial wellness. The movement for Black women’s health equity is both longstanding and ongoing,” said Linda Goler Blount, MPH, President and CEO of BWHI, who is also an epidemiologist. “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still so much more we need to do together. We’re excited to collaborate with the WellSky Foundation as we work to achieve our vision of making optimal health a reality for more Black women and girls.”

Every day, Black cis- and transgender women and girls face significant health inequities on the basis of their race and gender identity. This week, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is celebrating their 38th anniversary, as they continue their commitment to address the range of systemic inequities affecting Black women in the U.S. healthcare system. BWHI focuses on key issues impacting Black women’s health — including breast and cervical cancers, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, intimate partner violence and sexual assault, maternal health, and reproductive health. BWHI is a catalyst for change through their range of programs, evidence-based strategies, and advocacy efforts on health policies.

“The Black Women’s Health Imperative fiercely advocates for change, improved policy, and better health outcomes for Black women and girls,” said Andrea Morgan, executive director of the WellSky Foundation. “The WellSky Foundation saw BWHI’s 38-year legacy of empowering and uplifting Black women, and we’re excited to partner with BWHI to further amplify their work. We’re honored to work with BWHI as they make meaningful progress toward improving the long-term health of more Black women.”

One of the stark health disparities Black women consistently face is a higher rate of maternal mortality. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the 2018 maternal mortality rate for Black women in the U.S. was 37.1 for every 100,000 births — more than double that of White women (14.7).The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated medical care for many people, and it has also exacerbated maternal health challenges and more issues affecting Black women, according to BWHI.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately impact people in Black and Latinx communities, exposing long-existing gaps in the healthcare system for people of color. A 2020 study conducted by Lean In found that Black women in particular were the population hardest hit by COVID-19, with the pandemic negatively affecting their finances, physical health, home life, and emotional wellbeing. The study also notes that women of color, including Black women, are more likely to be frontline healthcare workers risking their lives to help others. BWHI addresses these factors and envisions a future where Black women can enjoy healthy lives in a socially just society.

“Data consistently shows that Black communities, and Black women in particular, are facing new and increasing health challenges during the pandemic,” said Bill Miller, CEO of WellSky, the global health and community care technology company that established the WellSky Foundation. “I’m proud that the WellSky Foundation is supporting the Black Women’s Health Imperative and their continued movement for better health and well-being for Black women today and beyond.”

About Black Women's Health Imperative

The Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice for Black women, across the lifespan, through policy, advocacy, education, research, and leadership development. The organization identifies the most pressing health issues that affect the nation's 22 million Black women and girls and invests in the best of the best strategies and organizations that accomplish its goals. For more information, please visit bwhi.org.

About the WellSky Foundation

The WellSky Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for vulnerable populations by removing social barriers to health, recovery, and lasting wellness. The WellSky Foundation is an engine for change, financially supporting organizations that enable care and healing for people, regardless of their socioeconomic status. With a deep understanding of the social determinants of health, the WellSky Foundation partners with community organizations that are boldly addressing the top four socioeconomic factors affecting long-term wellness — housing, food insecurity, transportation, and isolation. The WellSky Foundation is committed to funding and supporting organizations that protect the people and communities they serve and create better outcomes for people in need. Together with our community partners, the WellSky Foundation is breaking down social barriers to health and wellness to build thriving communities. To learn more about the WellSky Foundation, visit WellSkyFoundation.org.

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Media Contact
Emma Mulvaney
Phone: 1.617.401.3131
Email: [email protected]

Source: The WellSky Foundation

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