Jessica Mowry of The Warm Center in Westerly explains the services they provide and how BCBSRI is helping them build apartments for families.
Understanding health goes beyond healthcare
Our mission to improve the health and well-being of Rhode Islanders guides our investment in community organizations. We know that the health of our neighbors depends on much more than the healthcare they receive in a doctor’s office or clinic. We support community groups that address underlying needs, especially food and housing, as well as groups that provide access to care.
BlueAngel Community Health Grants
For the sixth consecutive year, BCBSRI focused our annual BlueAngel Community Health Grant program on addressing an issue that Rhode Islanders continue to say is one of the most challenging to their well-being: safe and affordable housing. BCBSRI’s annual, competitive grant program provided support to 10 community-based organizations making an impact on this issue for Rhode Islanders.
$598,000
In grants awarded in 2025
Investing in safe & affordable housing
Crossroads Rhode Island
BCBSRI’s third year of investment in the Roads to Home Campaign is helping to build permanent, supportive housing that includes onsite offices for healthcare providers, a first for the state. The Crossroads Rhode Island building will include 35 apartments for medically vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness, as well as a healing garden and offices for Crossroads staff.
Sojourner House
BCBSRI funding for the Housing Sustainer Program helped Sojourner House serve more than 1,000 survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking, including emergency shelter for 125 people and housing services for 513 people at risk of homelessness.
Increasing food security
Emergency food response
In November 2025, amid disruptions to safety net programs, BCBSRI provided proactive gifts to 15 nonprofit partners working to address food access. The grants helped support their staff’s well-being during a period of heightened community need.
Lynn Page of Feed RI describes their work to help people all around Rhode Island get nutritious food and what it means to have BCBSRI's support.
87,000+
Rhode Islanders supported by BCBSRI investments in food access in 2025
Household access to food
BCBSRI contributions to groups like Farm Fresh RI, RI Community Food Bank, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, Amos House, and others helped many Rhode Islanders gain access to healthy food.
Boosting access to healthcare
We push toward fulfilling the “access to high quality, affordable, and equitable care” part of our vision by helping—with funding and volunteers—clinics serving people who do not have regular access to healthcare. We work with Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, Rhode Island Free Clinic, and the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic, among others.
11,000+
Rhode Islanders served by free clinics in 2025
Promoting behavioral health in our youth
After setting a bold goal to positively impact the mental health of at least 50% of Rhode Island youth, or more than 100,000 kids, we exceeded it by investing in a broad range of programs with community partners supporting children and adolescents.
Recess Rocks in Rhode Island
In 2025, BCBSRI, Playworks New England, and the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition celebrated 10 years of Recess Rocks. The free training program for schools is designed to ensure that recess is a safe, meaningful, and healthy experience for every child.
10 years
of Recess Rocks
45,500+
Kids have participated
129
Schools have been involved
4,700
Teachers and staff have been trained
We also partnered with these programs, among others:
- Project SUCCESS – School-based prevention and early intervention services
- The Chris Collins Foundation – Peer-to-peer program of student‑led mental health education
- Brown University Mood Check – Universal mental health screening for adolescents in core city schools