Walk down any block in New York City and you’ll see resilience everywhere. Parents hustling to provide for their kids, seniors navigating daily health challenges, young people striving for brighter futures. The energy of this city is undeniable. Yet behind the rhythm of daily life lies a harder truth: too many New Yorkers face barriers that no one family, community, or sector can solve alone.
Consider this: In New York one in five children goes to bed hungry. One in ten babies arrives too early, putting both mothers and infants at risk. And nearly one in six of our neighbors struggles with substance use. These aren’t faceless statistics. They represent the child in a crowded classroom trying to learn on an empty stomach, the mother anxiously navigating pregnancy without consistent care, and the teenager searching for stability while battling addiction. These challenges demand not just empathy, but action.
For too long, we’ve assumed that government alone must tackle these crises. But health doesn’t start in a doctor’s office, and it doesn’t end with a prescription. It begins in homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. That means all of us — businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, and residents — have a role to play.
That’s why the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation invested $14.2 million last year in New York, expanding food access, improving maternal health, and supporting recovery from substance use in communities from Harlem to the Bronx. And this is only the beginning. We’ve now committed $150 million nationally over the next five years to strengthen maternal health, advance “food as medicine,” expand behavioral health supports, and build community resiliency.
But dollars alone won’t solve this. Businesses can contribute their greatest asset — their people. At Anthem, we encourage employees to give back through volunteer time, donation matching, and team service projects. Imagine the ripple effect if industries across the city — finance, tech, construction, retail — dedicated even a fraction of their talent, expertise, and passion to build healthier communities. The impact would extend far beyond individual programs and could reshape the very fabric of New York’s neighborhoods.
As a physician, I’ve witnessed how access to nutritious food, emotional support, and strong community ties can change a patient’s entire trajectory. These aren’t luxury goods but rather essential ones. Healthier neighborhoods reduce strain on public systems, strengthen the workforce, and fuel economic growth. Simply put, when New Yorkers thrive, we all thrive.
So, here’s my challenge to New York’s business leaders: partner with nonprofits, invest in communities, and support your employees in giving back. You don’t need to be in health care to make someone healthier. You just need to care enough to act.
Dr. Mark Levy is president and CEO of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid in New York, which has served the city for more than 80 years.
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