Honoring the Brave of Heart

New York Life, in partnership with Cigna and powered by E4E Relief, created the Brave of Heart Fund that provides financial and emotional support to the families of healthcare workers and volunteers who have lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19. It’s a wonderful example of what corporate America can achieve when leadership meets compassion. The mission is to provide financial and emotional support to the families of healthcare workers and volunteers who have perished in the fight against Covid-19.

The fund has already made a big impact on over 500 families, but for Heather’s team there is still much to be done, so they continue to seek out the relatives of fallen front line workers because as she explains, making a tangible difference in one person’s life is the most meaningful thing that any of us can do.

A conversation with Heather Nesle- President, New York Life Foundation

How did the Brave of Heart Fund come to life? When a crisis arises we show up, and New York Life has done this throughout its 175 year history. Our involvement with the fund started back in March when the world woke up to the fact that Covid-19 was a huge international pandemic and that it was going to have a very large negative effect across the globe. We were in a strong financial position and have a history of supporting communities in need, so we reflected on how to utilize the skills of our company in order to make a difference. We quickly coalesced around the idea of honoring the heroes on the frontlines who passed while caring for Covid-19 positive patients by providing financial assistance and behavioral health services to their families during their time of grief.

Regarding Latinos, what has been your experience with the fund? About 15% of applicants have identified themselves as Latino, LatinX or Hispanic, which is a significant percentage. It is important for us to reach this community because we know that they have been one of the hardest hit.

Through SAMHSA we learned that Hispanics are significantly more likely than the general public to consider Covid-19 as a major threat to their health and finances. We also learned that while Latinos and African-Americans may not have the highest levels of mental health issues it is often harder for them to find the right providers. That is why we decided to offer culturally responsive mental health resources through Cigna who is providing one to one support to help families navigate issues associated with loss such as anxiety, loneliness and depression.

How are you reaching out to this community to let them know help is available? We are actively trying to find and engage families who have experienced loss so that they know about the fund. In order to achieve this we partnered not only with the medical community and healthcare employers, but also with local and national based organizations like The Hispanic Federation to help us identify the needs. It is not complicated, but it is a process to apply for a grant like this. You have to fill out forms and provide evidence which can be intimidating, so we are also making sure to offer in language resources so that people can follow through and get the support they need. People in grief go through a large range of emotions, often times they are not able to handle something like an application for a grant, so our aim is to make the process as seamless as possible.

What is the first step to apply? The entry point is to go to www.braveofheartfund. com, and the first part of the process is to verify the eligibility of the deceased though the death certificate. Our definition of a healthcare worker is very expansive and includes anyone working in a healthcare or medical facility where there are Covid positive patients, not only doctors and nurses, but also cafeteria personnel, security guards and all of those who are putting their lives on the line for us. The second part is to submit proof of your relationship to the deceased: you must be a spouse, domestic partner or a dependent child or adult.

Once you go through that process you can apply for a Phase 1 grant. This consists of a $15,000 lump sum, they are immediate payments and the main purpose is to cover the cost of funeral and burial expenses, and any other urgent payments. Of all of the things you need to worry about when you're suffering a loss not knowing how you are going to pay your rent or bury a loved one should not be one of them. So these funds have been crucial.

You can then apply for Phase 2 which is more of a needsbased grant. We look at what your remaining income is after the healthcare worker has passed, and assess the immediate expenses that you need financial assistance for. That could be mortgage payments, food, clothing, education; anything that you need to get through to the next year. In Phase 2 families can get an additional $60,000, so in total families are eligible for $75,000 in grant assistance from the fund.

What has been the impact of the fund so far? We have disbursed at least 500 grants but we know that there is much greater need. Our main job aside from providing financial and mental aid is to make sure that these families understand that people care about them, and that that this fund was built because we recognize their sacrifice. The pain from a death doesn't go away, and for these families knowing that someone has their back has made a huge difference. We need to contribute whatever we can to make sure that we emerge from this better than before.

Why is it important for corporate America to become involved in relief efforts? There are many corporations taking on important issues in these challenging times, and there are many reasons for this. One is self-serving; it doesn't hurt your brand to be known as a company that looks out for their communities. But the real benefit aside from the difference you can make is motivating your employees. In times like this it's all hands on deck: Anyone that has a resource must help. And it’s not only about money, you can give your time, your sentiment, your prayers. A culture of giving brings about loyalty and pride; it makes better companies. At New York Life we understand that the nature of our business is to provide a social good, so there is an inherent motivation in becoming involved. I like to say that it's a company that truly has a soul.

What has this project meant to you? Being able to fund such a passion-based initiative has been a privilege. At New York Life we talk a lot about the concept of AGAPE which is the Greek word for selfless unconditional love; love in its highest form. And that is what we see these frontline workers doing, because they are certainly not getting paid enough to put themselves and their families at risk, but it is their love of their fellow man that motivates them, and it is so important for us to honor these heroes.

There are many lessons from this pandemic that hopefully we will be able to bring forward, but it is clear that having a tangible impact on an individual's life is probably the most meaningful thing that any of us can do.