January 14, 2022

Nearly 6,000 individuals submitted entries for the health plan’s
“Nominate Your Favorite Charity” program

Independent Health announced the final round of $650 recipients for its “Nominate Your Favorite Charity” program. Nearly 8,000 individuals submitted nominations for the program during the 2021 Medicare annual enrollment period. All randomly selected recipients operate within the eight-county Western New York region.

Throughout the Medicare annual enrollment season, which concluded Dec. 7, Independent Health invited all residents across Western New York to nominate their favorite local charity for a chance to receive a donation. Every two weeks, starting in October, Independent Health randomly selected 13 local non-profit organizations to receive $650 each. This amounted to more than $42,000 for 65 organizations serving Western New York (#650for65charities).

The final two rounds of non-profit awardees included:

• Parkinson’s Foundation of WNY
• Delaware Soccer Club
• Crisis Services
• The Dale Association
• Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue
• Explore Buffalo
• Wisdom Farm Gigi’s Playhouse
• Endeavor Health Services
• SASi
• Seneca Street Community Development Corporation
• Hauptman-Woodward
• WNY Independent Living
• White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary
• Visually Impaired Advancement
• Family Promise of WNY
• Recovery Options Made Easy
• Lockport Cares
• Jericho Road
• EPIC
• Goodwill of WNY
• Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association
• Parent Network of WNY
• Bornhava
• Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park

“As the only locally based health care plan in Western New York, Independent Health values the many charitable community organizations our members support,” said Michael W. Cropp, president and CEO of Independent Health. “We are proud to have sponsored this program and given thousands of community members the opportunity to identify their favorite local charities that are making an impact in our region. We thank everyone who nominated their favorite cause and are pleased to donate $650 to each non-profit organization.”