The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey has jumped with both feet into the effort to help support veterans in the state.
The Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey, recently launched a special Veterans Health Initiative. The initiative will provide grants to organizations addressing the unique challenges veterans face.
The foundation began accepting grants in February. The submission deadline is May 7.
“The issues around veterans touch so many people,” said Jon Pearson, executive director of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and senior director of corporate social responsibility for Horizon. “It is an important population in the state, and we want to make sure they have the help they need. We want veterans to achieve their best health.”
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey will award one-year grants up to $20,000 for organizations serving veterans and their families.
Pearson said that the Veterans Health Initiative grew out of an outreach by Braven Health (a Horizon subsidiary) last year to connect more with veterans.
“Braven Health will continue to work with veterans groups to make them aware of this tremendous grant opportunity and to ensure they know how to apply,” said Jeff Cantor, director, product development and partnerships at Braven Health. “This is an amazing opportunity provided by Horizon through the generosity of its foundation.”
According to Pearson and Cantor, as a result of conversations across the veteran community, the Foundation selected three key areas to support – behavioral health, housing/food insecurity, and economic opportunity.
“We are looking to build a better collaboration of care for veterans across the whole health care spectrum,” said Cantor. “I think the way forward is a hybrid model of care for veterans utilizing the healthcare networks available on the civilian side collaborating with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).”
Pearson agreed.
“We are not looking to replace the VA,” he said. “We are looking to be complementary to what they offer. When you look at the needs of veterans, especially for mental health and other services, this was a very easy fit for our mission and priorities. We are very proud to do this.”
Applicants for the Veterans Health Initiative must be a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves veterans and/or their families in New Jersey and have experience developing and running effective grant programs with a record of meeting veterans’ needs and delivering positive results.
Existing grantee organizations of the Horizon Foundation are not eligible to apply for this initiative.
Applicants will be notified of the grant decisions in July. The grant period will commence on October 1 and continue through September 30, 2026.
For more information about the Veterans Health and the application, click here.
