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Florida Blue Foundation Celebrates Community Impact

On May 1, 2025, the Florida Blue Foundation held its 20th annual Sapphire Awards in Orlando, recognizing exceptional nonprofits that are making significant contributions to community health in Florida. The event featured nine finalists who were celebrated for their innovative programs and dedication to enhancing the well-being of Floridians. This year’s Sapphire Awards recognized the critical role technology and innovation play in health outcomes, underscoring the foundation's commitment to fostering a healthier state.

The highlight of the symposium was the announcement of recipients who will collectively receive $525,000 in funding to further their impactful work in the community. Susan Towler, Executive Director of the Florida Blue Foundation, expressed excitement about marking this milestone anniversary and applauded the honorees for their commitment to community health. "Each of the honorees is dedicated to innovation that improves the lives of Floridians, and we are honored to support their inspiring work," she said.

Award-Winning Programs

Among the distinguished award winners were several programs focused on supporting various vulnerable populations throughout the state:

• - Family Navigator Program (Alzheimer's Community Care, West Palm Beach) led the awards with a first-place honor and $100,000 grant. It provides invaluable resources to family caregivers, aiding 3,846 individuals and achieving a remarkable 85% success rate in supporting their caregiving efforts.

• - Coping Academy Program (Tomorrow's Rainbow, Coconut Creek) received a second-place award and $50,000 for providing equine-assisted bereavement support for grieving children, bringing therapy to those needing it most.

• - Fund-A-Child Program (Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center, Jacksonville) earned third place and a $25,000 grant, having offered life-changing communication services through thousands of therapy sessions for uninsured children.

Transformative Organizations

Several organizations also received recognition for their essential contributions to the community:

• - Family Promise of Brevard (Cocoa) secured first place with a $100,000 grant, tackling family homelessness by integrating various support services that boast a 96% success rate for families exiting their programs.

• - All Faiths Food Bank (Sarasota) was awarded second place and $50,000 for providing over 18 million meals each year and implementing programs like Food as Medicine to promote long-term food security solutions.

• - Tampa Family Health Centers (Tampa) rounded out the awards with $25,000 for their comprehensive health care services that address social determinants of health.

Recognizing Outstanding Individuals

Honoring individual contributions, the foundation recognized:

• - Cliff Barsi from Metropolitan Ministries, who has played a pivotal role in serving over 1 million meals annually, received first place recognition and $100,000 to further his efforts.

• - Lisa Early, a key figure in the Families, Parks, and Recreation Department of Orlando, was honored with a second-place award. Her extensive experience in international development and community services enhances children's lives across Orlando. She was awarded $50,000 directed toward the Orlando Community Youth Trust.

• - Cindy Funkhouser received third place, acknowledging her transformative leadership in the homeless services sector with Sulzbacher, also taking home $25,000 for her innovative approach to addressing homelessness.

A Legacy of Support and Innovation

Florida Blue Foundation established the Sapphire Awards in 2005 to honor excellence in community health, showcasing over 157 awards with more than $8 million in funding since its inception. The recent symposium attracted over 600 attendees, including health care professionals, government officials, and sector innovators, eager to discuss and learn about the pressing issues facing community health today.

The event featured keynote addresses and discussions led by eminent experts, such as Dr. Abraham Verghese, emphasizing the critical balance between technological advancement and maintaining an empathetic connection in health care. Moving forward, the Florida Blue Foundation aims to continue its mission of enabling healthy communities by fostering innovative programs and providing essential resources to those in need across Florida.

For more detailed insights on the initiatives supported by the Florida Blue Foundation and its ongoing impact, visit Florida Blue Foundation.