Trust Gives Annual Leadership Award to CCMU

By Ned Calonge, MD, MPH, The Colorado Trust

Today, we had the privilege of presenting The Colorado Trust’s 2013 John R. Moran, Jr. Grantee Leadership Award to the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved. The annual award, which is made in recognition of exemplary leadership by a current grantee of The Colorado Trust, comes with a $25,000 grant to support the ongoing work of the award recipient.

As an early supporter of CCMU, we couldn’t be happier to see a nonprofit organization with such a critical mission grow stronger and become increasingly effective. The Coalition has uniquely positioned itself as a bridge between underserved communities and policymakers, working seamlessly toward this end with other organizations and groups. CCMU’s staff and leadership are exceptionally adept in bringing together diverse communities, and generating meaningful conversations that result in active changes to improve access to health for Coloradans who are most vulnerable. Those who are medically underserved in our state may be uninsured or underinsured, facing chronic illnesses or living in rural regions with limited access to care.

In addition to providing general operating support to CCMU, The Trust also is currently partnered with CCMU through Colorado HealthStory and the Colorado Network of Health Alliances. Colorado HealthStory is a collaborative effort of CCMU, Colorado Rural Health Center and ClinicNet to collect and share health stories from Coloradans to help bring communities together and spark meaningful conversations about health care. The Alliances pairs CCMU with 13 local health alliances in a statewide network to support and coordinate efforts, ultimately aiming to increase their collaboration, capacity and efficacy. This effort is also supported by the Caring for Colorado Foundation and Colorado Health Foundation.

In honoring CCMU with this award, we hope to shine a spotlight on one of our state’s already bright assets.

The leadership award was created in recognition of John R. Moran, Jr., former long-time President and CEO of The Colorado Trust, for his devotion to improving the health and well-being of people across the state. Moran retired from The Colorado Trust in 2006, following 21 years of service with the grantmaking foundation.