EVERGREEN HEALTH ANNOUNCES $250,000 IN GRANT FUNDING FROM KEYBANK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FIRST NIAGARA FOUNDATION

Significant grant will ensure smooth transition as Evergreen acquires People Inc’s primary care services

BUFFALO, NY—Today, healthcare organization Evergreen Health announced that it has received $250,000 from KeyBank, in partnership with the First Niagara Foundation, which will support Evergreen’s recent acquisition of People Inc.’s primary care practice and intent to establish a location for primary care services at 1870 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, New York. This marks KeyBank’s first monetary contribution to Evergreen Health.

“We are extremely grateful for this significant level of support provided by KeyBank and the First Niagara Foundation, as we look ahead to bringing People Inc.’s primary care patients into the Evergreen family,” said Raymond Ganoe, president and CEO of Evergreen Health. “Evergreen’s recent expansion, through our acquisition of People Inc.’s Article 28 operations, was a result of People Inc. seeking a partner with a shared mission of serving those who are underserved by the healthcare system. We have found in KeyBank what People Inc. found in us–and their support will allow us to realize our full potential for serving our new patients.”

KeyBank’s donation will supply Evergreen with necessary resources, including medical equipment and furniture, to expand its patient population, particularly individuals with disabling conditions or other special needs, at 1870 Elmwood Avenue. In February, Evergreen Health announced its partnership with People Inc., particularly its acquisition of the People Inc. Elmwood Health Center Primary Care clinic (Article 28). Once the transition occurs later this year, Evergreen will serve 5,000 new patients, in addition to its annual patient population, made up of 14,000 individuals.

Evergreen intends to open a new primary care clinic located at 1870 Elmwood, by leasing space in the building, which will remain owned and operated by People Inc. The new clinic will fall under Evergreen’s Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHCLAL) scope of services and include primary care services, as well as gynecology, podiatry and neurology, and services for individuals with disabling conditions and other special needs.

“It is our mission at KeyBank to support programs and organizations that address the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors by providing the resources necessary to support the underserved,” said Elizabeth Gurney, Executive Director of the KeyBank and First Niagara Foundations. “Evergreen’s new primary care clinic will fill a critical need in our city by providing high quality medical care for those in need to achieve greater health and well-being.”

KeyBank’s donation follows recent and significant announcements for the organization:

• In December 2020, Evergreen announced that it had been designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHCLAL) by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).
• In January 2021, Evergreen announced that The MOCHA Center of Buffalo will become a part of the organization, marking an expansion in its services for LGBTQ+ communities of color.
• In January 2021, Evergreen announced its partnership with People Inc. and the acquisition of People Inc.’s primary care clinic.
• In February 2021, Evergreen announced that it had received its received its Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinic license from New York State’s Office of Mental Health.

Evergreen Health fosters healthy communities by providing medical, supportive and behavioral services to individuals and families in Western New York – especially those who are living with chronic illness or who are underserved by the healthcare system.

KeyBank’s roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $170.3 billion at December 31, 2020. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,000 branches and more than 41,000 KeyBank ATMs and Allpoint surcharge free ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit key.com. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Founded in 1998, the First Niagara Foundation will carry out the philanthropic legacy of First Niagara Bank, which was acquired by KeyCorp in 2016. The Foundation, in partnership with KeyBank, supports not for profit organizations dedicated to empowering individuals and neighborhoods primarily in Western New York.