A Lasting Legacy

A look back at the Foundation’s history and past projects.

Our Beginnings

In 1993, insurance giants Anthem and Blue Cross/Blue Shield merged. Anthem, a for-profit company, took over all the resources of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which was a non-profit insurer. In the conversion, Anthem did not account for the value of charitable assets. In 1997, the state’s attorney general at the time sued to recover those charitable assets. The case eventually settled, and in 1999 Anthem Inc. agreed to put $45 million into an independent, charitable foundation that would address the unmet health needs of Kentuckians.

In 2000, an advisory body was formed to advise on the structure and mission of the new foundation. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky was officially incorporated in 2001 and the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held.

Past Initiatives and Projects Include:

 Coordinated School Health Initiative (2007 ‐ 2012)

Demonstration projects were supported through funds to 29 district, multi-school or individual school grantees. With an emphasis on reducing childhood obesity and increasing physical activity, each of the 29 grantees received funds to develop and tailor a Coordinated School Health program to their local needs.

Health Advocacy Initiative (2007 ‐ 2012)

  • In 2004, FHKY launched one of its very first grantmaking programs called “Community Grants”. Grants of $5,000, on average, were made to community-based organizations and state and local agencies across Kentucky to support advocacy efforts and projects to enhance access to health care. In 2007, the Community Grants program became part of the Foundation’s larger, Health Advocacy Initiative. In total, 184 grants were made between 2004 – 2011. Read more about the community grants.

  • The larger initiative also included funding and support to advocacy organizations and networks to expand the state’s army of health advocates.

  • In total this initiative gave out $2.8 million in grants.

 Primary Care Initiative (2007 ‐ 2012)

FHKY’s Primary Care Initiative consisted of grants and technical assistance (TA) to underserved areas in Kentucky to increase access to primary care services. TA was provided by the Kentucky Primary Care Association (KPCA) and Crown Medical Management. During this same period, significant federal funding became available to expand community health centers (CHCs) in the poorest counties of the nation. FHKY expanded TA funding to additional communities to help them apply for federal funding for establishing Federally Qualified Health Centers. Watch the video to hear a testimonial of the initiative’s impact or read this brief to learn more.

*video produced in 2022

Kentucky Healthy Futures Initiative (2011-2014)

The Kentucky Healthy Futures Initiative (KHFI) supported innovative, replicable strategies to improve the health of Kentucky’s underserved populations. It was a partnership of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, the federal government, and local communities. Over $12 million in federal, Foundation, and community resources were invested into projects that serviced thousands of Kentuckians. The adjoining video shares an example of one of the community projects.

*video produced in 2022.

Investing in Kentucky’s Future (2012 - 2018)

The six-year initiative was a partnership between FHKY and seven local health coalitions throughout the Commonwealth. The demonstration projects were selected to support the capacity of community organizations to find local, comprehensive, systemic solutions to complex health issues to improve the health of their children and communities. Six coalitions chose to implement policies and strategies to address childhood obesity and one chose to focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). FHKY provided funding and technical assistance to the coalitions for their projects.‍ ‍Learn more about this initiative and its results.

Promoting Responsive Health Policy (2012 - 2018)

This project was aimed at making public policy more responsive to the health and health care needs of the people of Kentucky. FHKY made grants, invested in research and data efforts, convened stakeholder groups in forums and meetings to share information and work together, and supported relationship- and capacity-building activities. Learn more about this initiative and its results.

Tobacco-Free Schools Project (2019 - 2024)

Less than half of Kentucky school districts were 100% tobacco free before 2019. In some instances, there were designated smoking areas for staff and adults were allowed to smoke at outdoor sporting events. FHKY, the Kentucky School Boards Association, and the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow (which FHKY served as the backbone organization of), advocated for improvements in state laws to protect young people from tobacco and nicotine-products. In 2019, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a law that encouraged all schools to adopt 100% tobacco-free policies.

FHKY, the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA), and Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow learned the cost of signage was a barrier to school districts adopting the 100 percent smoke-free policy. So, the organizations teamed up to offer free signage to schools and districts.

Today, Kentucky law requires all school districts be 100% tobacco-free.

*video produced in 2022.

I Just Didn’t Know (2019 - 2020)

To combat misinformation about e-cigarettes and vaping, the Foundation created a public service announcement campaign featuring real Kentucky teens talking about the dangers of vaping.

Watch the videos and download other resources.

COVID-19 Pandemic Campaigns (2021 - 2023)

FHKY produced various PSA campaigns throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage people to get the vaccine. The adjoining video shares more about how the organization reacted to the pandemic.

*video produced in 2022

This is not a complete list of all past work done by FHKY.

Key Milestones Include:

  • scales of justice

    1997: Long-Shot Lawsuit

    Then-Attorney General Ben Chandler files suit to keep the charitable assets from Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky.

    LEARN MORE

  • First Community Advisory Council group

    2000: Community Advisory Council Formed

    The Community Advisory Council is formed and advises on the structure and mission of the new Foundation.

  • First FHKY logo

    2001: Foundation Incorporated

    The Foundation is officially created.

    Endowed Chairs are created at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

    Rita Moya was named executive director.

  • classroom

    2004: Grant Programs Begin

    The Foundation invests in 17 school districts to implement its Coordinated School Health Initiative.

    Grants for increased media coverage of health policy issues begin. Grantees include Louisville Public Media, KET (Kentucky Educational Television), and the Institute for Rural Journalism.

  • Susan Zepeda

    2005: New Leadership

    Susan Zepeda joins the Foundation as chief executive officer.

  • Kentucky voices for health logo

    2007: Fostering Advocacy, Nurturing Community Based Solutions

    The Foundation helps form Kentucky Voices for Health to work on health care access in the commonwealth.

    In addition, the Foundation funds 28 community grants focused on local solutions to local issues.

  • meeting in FHKY training room.

    2011: Blending Training, Convening, Funding

    Health for a Change launches as a series of in-person workshops and online webinars to build capacity of grantees and other nonprofit health organizations.

    The Foundation also helps establish Grantmakers in Kentucky, a statewide coalition of funders.

  • (c)space coworking space

    2014: Coworking Space Opens

    The Foundation opens (c)space, a coworking space for community minded businesses and nonprofits.

  • testifying in Frankfort

    2016: Sustaining Health Policy Gains

    The Foundation convenes Medicaid Waiver stakeholders and testifies before state lawmakers on a Medicaid reform proposal.

    Ben Chandler is named Preisdent and CEO of the Foundation.

  • FHKY logo and Friedell logo

    2018: Joining Forces

    The Foundation united with The Friedell Committee for Health System Transformation to strengthen advocacy for state and local policies for improving health in Kentucky.

    The Kentucky Healthy Policy Champions Award is renamed the Gil Friedell Health Policy Champion Award.

  • Raise your Guard KY graphic

    2020: Pandemic Response

    In the face of a worldwide pandemic, the Foundation added on public education efforts to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky. The “Wear It For Me” campaigns asked Kentuckians to prepare, protect and disinfect. “Raise Your Guard, KY,” meantime, encouraged Kentuckians to schedule their annual visit with their health care provider and stay up-to-date on immunizations.

    In addition, the Foundation supported the Co-Immunity Project, a COVID-19 wastewater testing program, which provided early warning of potential outbreaks, in Louisville, Graves County, and Northern Kentucky.

  • 2025: New Leadership

    Allison Adams is named President and Chief Executive Officer.