GE Foundation Grant to AmeriCares Expands Access to Better Healthcare For More Than 250 Clinics Nationwide

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to increase Americans' access to quality healthcare across the country, the GE Foundation -- the philanthropic organization of GE -- has awarded a $650,000 grant to AmeriCares, expanding the reach of GE's Developing Health program. Developing Health is a 3-year, $25 million commitment that provides grant funding and employee engagement to selected healthcare centers across the United States, focusing on delivering primary care and access to quality healthcare.

The grant will enable AmeriCares, a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization, to expand its domestic medical assistance services to over 250 health clinics serving the uninsured and underinsured throughout the U.S., delivering donated medicines and medical supplies to clinics providing primary care services. The Developing Health program helps drive GE's 'healthymagination' initiative--a commitment to help change the world's approach to healthcare by lowering costs, touching more lives, and improving quality.

"Recognizing a critical need in the U.S. healthcare system, the Developing Health program seeks to fill the gap in access to quality care for underserved communities. Our partnership with AmeriCares is a great illustration of the positive impact that the Developing Health program can make by combining funding with the volunteer support of GE's people," said Bob Corcoran, President of GE Foundation.

"We are proud to be a part of the 'Developing Health' initiative as it is in perfect alignment with our vision to help more people live longer, healthier lives," said Curt Welling, President and CEO of AmeriCares. "AmeriCares is committed to supporting free clinics and their critical role in our country's healthcare system; providing underserved patients with access to healthcare in addition to easing the pressure on over-burdened emergency rooms for primary care services."

In 2009, AmeriCares delivered more than $20 million in medical assistance to 160 health clinics across the country and plans to double that commitment to $40 million over the next two years. The grant from the GE Foundation will enable AmeriCares to broaden the support it provides to clinics, including best practices research and guidelines to stretching limited resources to increase patient treatment capacity.

About AmeriCares

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world and across the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $9 billion in humanitarian aid. For more information, log onto www.AmeriCares.org.

About the GE Foundation

The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to solve some of the world's most difficult problems. In coordination with its partners, it supports U.S. and international education, developing health globally, the environment, public policy, human rights and disaster relief. In addition, the GE Foundation supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities around the world. In 2009, the entire GE family -- including businesses, employees, retirees and GE Foundation -- contributed more than an estimated $220 million to community and educational programs, including more than $100 million from GE Foundation. For more information, visit www.gefoundation.com.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. Healthymagination is a $6 billion commitment that was launched in May 2009.

SOURCE AmeriCares