#ForHealthEquity: A Moment for Giving. A Movement for Equity

By: Thomas G. Bognanno, President and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities 

The COVID-19 pandemic magnified longstanding health inequities and racial disparities in cities and states across the United States, from lack of access to quality healthcare, to education, nutrition, employment, and housing.

In response, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities mobilized our national network of leaders, partners and communities through our #ForHealthEquity Giving Day. This national day of action and charitable giving aligned with the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.

CHC Giving Day #ForHealthEquity provided an opportunity to engage current corporate and nonprofit partners, individuals and board members as well as new organizations. We created a robust toolkit to engage partners, plus intentionally selected and sourced illustrations from designer John D. Saunders’ BlackIllustrations.com. Featuring these illustrations on our website and social media channels was an intentional way to promote equity.

Through this single day of giving campaign, together we:

  • Raised more than $150,000
  • Reached over 5 million consumers and CSR leaders through stories and coverage on Medium, PR Daily, The Oklahoman and more
  • Reached 300,000 consumers and partners across social media using the #ForHealthequity hashtag
  • Directed over 3,000 new users to our #ForHealthEquity campaign microsite

Here at CHC, we are rooted in the belief that health is about much more than healthcare. We envision a world where every person in every community has an opportunity to realize their greatest potential and live a healthy life, no matter their race, gender, financial situation, or geographic location. 

A collective effort is what’s required to achieve health equity, and that’s why we’re working together #ForHealthEquity. We invite you to join the movement.

Thomas G. Bognanno, President and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

Thomas G. Bognanno has been the President and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities formerly Community Health Charities since January 2006. Prior to that, Tom had a distinguished 20-year career with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), where he served as the Chief Field Officer. He was instrumental in revitalizing ADA’s community-level infrastructure and acting as one of the chief architects of the Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life partnership between ADA, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society. Before ADA, Tom spent six years with the American Cancer Society.

At CHC, Tom has been a catalyst for consolidating the organization and creating a new direction for its more than 2,000 charity partners nationwide and its network of over 17 million caring employees. Under Tom’s leadership, CHC evolved its mission to empower people to take action to improve health and wellbeing to build stronger, healthier communities. CHC supports education, treatment, and prevention for those with health challenges; brings organizations together to improve community health; provides individuals with opportunities to get involved; and increases the capacity of nonprofit organizations.

Residing in northern Virginia, Tom and his wife Suzan have been married for over 35 years and have raised three children.