Poverty Solutions Group takes top prize in GuideWell’s Growing Resilient Communities Challenge with plans to help launch new business ventures of residents in poverty   

Orlando, Fla. – Oct. 28, 2021 – Central Florida nonprofit Poverty Solutions Group was announced as the winner of GuideWell’s Growing Resilient Communities Challenge, four-month statewide innovation challenge seeking solutions that break down the barriers preventing equitable economic and healthy living opportunities for Floridians living in underserved communities. Poverty Solutions Group is dedicated to reducing poverty and will use the $40,000 grand prize, and $5,000 finalist award, to further their work to support residents, with income below the federal poverty line, in training, mentorship and entrepreneurial pursuits.

The organization has been committed to transforming lives by engaging the whole community to end the cycle of generational poverty. Founded in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Poverty Solutions Group offers resources to empower individuals and households to achieve economic stability by addressing systemic barriers that perpetuate communitywide poverty.

“Poverty has always plagued the Central Florida community but during the pandemic we saw an alarming rate of growth,” said Poverty Solutions Group Executive Director Lynette Fields. “In 2020, the official U.S. poverty rate saw the first increase in poverty after five consecutive annual declines. There was a critical need for an organization to stand in the gap by offering essential resources that could uplift and enable members of the community to have sustainable incomes. We’re honored to serve the Central Florida community and are delighted at this opportunity to expand our support through the challenge funding.”

Poverty Solutions Group provides support to residents throughout Central Florida, with offices based in Winter Garden. The organization offers 24 hours of training, mentorship, and support to help Cohorts of Circle Leaders, residents with an income below the federal poverty line, develop their own plans for economic stability and then for the next 18 months they work closely with allies for a continuation of support. Some plans include creating a new business venture either as supplemental income or as a future full-time endeavor. The challenge funding will support the organization’s next phase, which is to offer a formalized process to help launch the new business ventures of the residents that they support.

“There’s a direct correlation between the economic prosperity of a person’s neighborhood and their health. GuideWell believes every Florida community, regardless of ZIP code, should have equitable economic and healthy living opportunities,” said GuideWell and Florida Blue President and CEO Pat Geraghty.

“A neighborhood’s residents are the best resource to drive local, sustainable economic prosperity. Poverty Solutions Group, as well as the other challenge finalists, are creating opportunities to empower residents to be actively involved in their neighborhood’s revitalization.”

In July, GuideWell issued the statewide challenge to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, innovators, and organizations to advance community-based entrepreneurship, financial literary, as well as access to educational, legal and health resources. Following four regional pitch events throughout the state, GuideWell selected the top finalists from each region. The 12 finalists, including Poverty Solutions Group, were each awarded $5,000 and an opportunity to compete for the $40,000 state prize to further expand their approach to improve economic disparities in Florida communities.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the 12 finalists convened virtually for an opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions at the statewide finals. Today, Geraghty announced Poverty Solutions Group as the challenge winner during a virtual town hall, an all-day event that brought together economic equity experts from throughout the state and country to engage in dialogue about how to break down barriers to economic equity.

As part of GuideWell’s long-term commitment to tackling health and racial equity and systematic racism, the company pledged $25 million in investments over five years to organizations focused on diversity and inclusion and health equity in the communities the organizations serve. The Growing Resilient Communities challenge is part of that investment.

Additional information on the challenge is available here.

About GuideWell  

GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (GuideWell) is a not-for-profit mutual holding company and the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care. The GuideWell organization includes Florida Blue, the leading health insurance company in Florida; GuideWell Health, a portfolio of clinical delivery organizations; GuideWell Venture Group, a portfolio of companies, including Onlife Health and PopHealthCare, focused on creating human-first and innovative health solutions for health plans; GuideWell Source, a provider of administrative services to state and federal health care programs; and WebTPA, a market leading administrator of self-funded employer health plans. For more information, visit www.guidewell.com. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kimberly Brown

Kimberly.Brown@GuideWell.com

407-639-8135