Since 1868, the St. Joe Foundation’s sponsor, The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, has had a long tradition of supporting access to healthcare for the most vulnerable. The St. Joe Foundation believes that each person has rights and responsibilities and must be respected and treated fairly. One significant way the Foundation realizes this is by assuring that everyone in the community has access to quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.

Nearly 10% of Hoosiers were uninsured in 2018, and the highest percentage of those in Allen County who are uninsured are in the 46802, 46803, and 46806 ZIP codes. Minority populations also have high percentages of those who are uninsured; we know that nearly 30% of the Hispanic population is uninsured, and 17% of the Black population is uninsured.

We are motivated to support programming so that all lower-income residents (especially Spanish-speaking Hispanic individuals and those living in 46802, 46803, and 46806) will have access to free or low-cost, quality healthcare, enabling them to improve their health and hope for their future.

Some of the strategies we are supporting include:

• Community Health Resource Directories

In addition, area organizations may apply for a grant from the Foundation to help lower-income residents access affordable, quality healthcare. Learn more about the Foundation’s work in this area through our Access to Healthcare Community Reports and Grantee Stories.

The Foundation has supported Matthew 25 Health & Dental Clinic since 1999. This has included funding for the medical director, dental director and volunteer coordinator positions, medical and surgical equipment, and training for their Spanish-speaking medical interpreters. Matthew 25 serves the community with over 20,000 patients visits to their medical and dental clinics annually.

Connecting People to Health and Wellness

Finances, transportation, knowledge, and trust are but a few of the barriers that prevent vulnerable populations from accessing health and wellness. The Foundation invests approximately one-third of its grantmaking annually in support of agencies, programs, and case managers who successfully connect the poor and marginalized with needed health and wellness resources in Allen County. Organizations may apply for a grant from the Foundation’s Health & Wellness Funds.

After listening to the community, the Foundation has also responded by offering programs to build infrastructure to help local individuals connect with vital services. This includes:

Area organizations may apply for a grant from the Foundation’s Health & Wellness Funds to support programming for operating support, salaries, case management, patient education, medical equipment, and more. Learn more about the St. Joe Foundation through our Community Impact Reports and Grantee Stories.