Who We Are

Centered in equity, the mission of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation is to pursue and invest in solutions that build a healthier region where all people can thrive.

Our History

The Greater Rochester Health Foundation (Health Foundation) was created in 2006 when the not-for-profit MVP Health Plan acquired the not-for-profit HMO Preferred Care.

The value of Preferred Care was returned to the community through MVP’s purchase price of $232 million to create a foundation dedicated to improving the health of the Greater Rochester community, inclusive of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Since its inception, the Health Foundation has acted as an independent foundation governed by a community-based board of directors and managed by a professional staff.

We view health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being — powerfully shaped by social, economic and environmental factors that are distributed unevenly and unjustly, creating pervasive health inequities by race, income, geography, disability and other identities. Structural racism has resulted in a public health crisis, combining and intersecting with other forms of discrimination, generational poverty, neighborhood disinvestment, rural access barriers, and other social inequities that prevent far too many residents of our region from reaching their full health potential.

Yet, we believe that potential is vast — the people, neighborhoods, and organizations closest to the issues have the expertise to create solutions — harnessing often underappreciated strengths and assets. Guided by the voice and participation of the community, we invest resources to help implement these solutions. We operate with a sense of urgency while engaging in the relationship building and co-creation needed for enduring change, recognizing that we will go farther together.

At the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, we understand that health equity is a matter of both justice and impact. As the largest driver of adverse health outcomes, eliminating inequities is essential to improving the overall health of our region—and requires directing resources to communities most impacted. We are committed to doing our part to changing systems, policies and practices to be more just and equitable, contributing to a healthier region where all people can thrive.

The mission of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation is to pursue and invest in solutions that build a healthier region where all people can thrive.

Our Values:

Equity: To achieve justice and fairness in health resources and outcomes we seek to disrupt the conditions that result in racial and other health inequities in our nine-county region.

Stewardship: To support our work we must have responsible oversight and management of the Foundation’s resources.

Partnership: We are committed to listening to and collaborating with people across communities, across sectors, and across differences in recognition that we accomplish more together to assure relevant strategies and solutions.

Innovation: We strive to catalyze innovative solutions to complex community health challenges.

Integrity: We act in an honest, accountable, ethical, and transparent manner and foster a culture of trust and respect in our interactions with people, organizations, and communities.