A partnership among BD (Becton Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers was selected as one of three winners for the Healthy10 Healthy Community award. The BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™ partnership was honored at the first national summit and Healthy10 Awards in Washington D.C. on Feb. 16.

The Health Means Business campaign is a partnership of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which encourages businesses to invest in the health of local communities. The Healthy10 Awards ceremony honors 10 specific partnerships and initiatives that are dedicated to improving the health of communities across the United States.

This award highlights the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities partnership, a multi-year initiative that expands access and improves care for underserved and vulnerable populations throughout the United States.

“The BD Helping Build Healthy Communities partnership increases access to care to communities severely in need,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “It’s an honor to recognize BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers for their outstanding partnership.”

The initiative, funded by $5 million in cash and product donations from BD, is implemented together with Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers. The program provides award funding and products to community health centers to support innovative approaches in the delivery of health care to underserved populations related to the prevention and treatment of diabetes, cervical cancer and HIV.

“BD’s Helping Build Healthy Communities program is a perfect example of the type of partnership that can make a tremendous difference in improving the health of people who have limited access to the health services that everyone needs,” said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO of Direct Relief. “It’s a privilege for Direct Relief to work with NACHC and BD to identify, award and share the powerful examples of innovation and successful health outcomes that occur every day ─ often under the radar ─ at America’s community health centers.”

Since 2013, 16 health centers have received funding through the Helping Build Healthy Communities initiative for their innovative approaches in patient care. In addition, BD donated more than 20 million syringes and needles to Direct Relief for patients who are insulin-dependent.

“The National Association of Community Health Centers values the partnership with BD and Direct Relief that has benefited many community health centers and their 25 million patients living in medically underserved communities,” said Malvise A. Scott, NACHC’s senior vice president for Partnership and Resource Development. “The awards program and product donations have positively impacted patients’ health status and indeed their lives.”

This is the first Healthy10 Awards ceremony and Health Means Business National Summit and was held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Feb. 15-16.