“Developing Health” is a new, three-year $25 million program providing grant funding and GE employee volunteer support to non-profit health centers across the United States.

Recognizing the urgent issues related to cost, quality and access of health care for underserved populations in the United States, GE Foundation has launched Developing Health, a new grant program that aims to increase access to primary care for underserved populations in targeted communities.

Created by GE Foundation and the GE Corporate Diversity Council, Developing Health will be lead by GE’s Affinity Networks, which include the Asian Pacific American Forum, Women’s Network, Hispanic Forum and African American Forum. The Affinity Networks will partner with non-profit health centers and offer volunteer support and business best practice sharing, in order to help clinics reach underserved populations and enable access to primary care.

On March 15, 2010, GE announced the expansion of Developing Health with a $1 million total award to four community healthcare centers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee is the second city to receive grants through the GE Foundation Developing Health initiative after New York City, with the program due to extend across 10 cities in the United States.

The four Milwaukee medical centers are:

  • MLK Heritage Health Center
  • Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center
  • Chavez Health Center
  • Parkway Health Center

“I’ve lived in Milwaukee all my life and understand well the area’s potential, and its challenges, particularly in the area of healthcare. By partnering with these clinics to increase access to primary care we can help more people get the care they need when they need it,” said Mike Barber, vice president of healthymagination. “This program and the volunteers supporting it are a living example of GE’s healthymagination strategy to help change the world’s approach to healthcare by touching more lives and improving quality of care.”

Read more about the Milwaukee Developing Health initiative on GEReports
Learn more about the launch of Developing Health in New York City

Watch a video about the work of one New York City clinic
Go to Video

Related Initiatives

healthymagination

The objectives of Developing Health align with GE’s healthymagination initiative, which is changing the way GE approaches healthcare through more than 100 innovations focused on addressing three critical needs: lowering costs, touching more lives and improving quality.

Developing Health Globally

Developing Health builds off the success of the Developing Health Globally program, which takes an “enterprise solution approach to building access to and increasing the capacity of health care in 14 countries throughout Africa, South America and Asia.

Leadership

John Rice, vice chairman and president and CEO of GE Infrastructure, is championing this program in association with Bob Corcoran, vice president of corporate citizenship, Deborah Elam, vice president of diversity, and Mike Barber, vice president of healthymagination.

An Advisory Panel has also been formed to work with GE Foundation and representatives of the GE Corporate Diversity Council to assist with structure of the program and clinic selection process, providing public health expertise.

There are several million people in this world that don’t have access to adequate health care. By kickstarting efforts in a few specific cities and towns around the U.S. through donations and volunteerism, we’re bringing real, positive change that’s been proven to work around the world.”

John Rice, Vice Chairman, GE

John Rice, Vice Chairman, GE