Sometimes the most important part of a health care system isn’t a hospital or a doctor’s office. It’s the connections between them - the community organizations, services and relationships that help people get the care and support they need between visits. For 30 years, Healthy Community Alliance (HCA) has been building those connections across rural communities in Western New York.

Founded in 1996 as a rural health network, HCA brings together health care providers, local governments, schools, businesses, faith communities and nonprofits to strengthen health and quality of life across Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Southern Erie and portions of Wyoming county.

A cornerstone of HCA’s work is Academy Place in Gowanda, a unique example of what can happen when a community brings services together under one roof. The building, which includes Academy Place Apartments, offers 32 affordable apartments for older adults, while its ground floor, Community Place, houses primary care, behavioral health services, senior nutrition programs, adult day services and other resources. It is a place where apartment residents and community members alike can access care and services, find social connection, and participate in their community in an accessible and supportive setting.

The Western New York Foundation has been supporting HCA’s rural work and a vision for Community Place for two decades. Starting in 2006, when a grant supported youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs in Southern Erie County schools. In 2014, the Foundation made an investment in the development of Community Place’s adult day services and the buildout for its Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly or PACE program, helping support architectural work and site preparation. While not the largest grant, it was key to securing an even larger funder to complete the project.

That investment continues to ripple through the community more than a decade later and subsequent funding has supported a kitchen for the senior wellness and nutrition site at Academy Place. It’s become a welcoming one stop shop where older adults can participate in programs, share meals, socialize and access services just steps from their homes. Caregivers receive support, while community partners have a place to deliver essential services. One apartment resident captured the human impact simply: living in an apartment building does not mean you can’t feel lonely. Having services and people so close creates opportunities for connection and belonging.

For HCA, that is what distinguishes the Foundation’s approach. Its investments look beyond a single program or short-term outcome and consider what can strengthen a community over the long term.

The Foundation has also been an agile partner when opportunities arise for HCA. In 2018, a project fell through that the WNY Foundation had agreed to provide matching funds for. However, the physical space for the project was later repurposed for additional primary care physician’s offices - a reminder that thoughtful and flexible investments can still help strengthen an organization even when original plans change.

As HCA celebrates 30 years, its work offers a powerful example of what community-centered philanthropy can make possible: bringing people and services together, strengthening rural communities and creating the conditions for people to live healthier, more connected lives.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HCA →