10/24/2025
Named after our founder, Care Ring's Maribelle Connerat award recognizes a person or organization who has worked to advance healthcare access and equity for our underserved communities. Last Thursday at our Hob Nob stakeholder appreciation and 70th anniversary event, we honored Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Charlotte with this award for doing just that, by addressing the social determinants of health – those factors outside one’s health that have a huge impact on someone’s ability to get and stay healthy. They promote affordable, green housing; safety; good education; job opportunities and financial stability—all of which lift the health and wellbeing of a community. They work to build three fundamental resources every neighborhood needs to keep residents well: easy access to primary health care; affordable, nutritious food; and safe places to exercise. In partnership with Care Ring, they helped us to secure an innovative grant from their Health Access Fund, which provided free Uber transportation for our patients to not only medical appointments, but also to pick up prescriptions and groceries, and to employment seeking activities. This grant provided 17,240 rides and helped to cut our no-show rate to medical appointments in HALF from 16% to 8%.
Since opening its Charlotte office in March 2019, LISC Charlotte has invested over $106 million in Charlotte in partnership with the city, philanthropic leaders, corporations, community residents and organizations. Their immense impact in comprehensive community development, economic development, affordable housing, health & safety, sports & recreation, and education, as well as building the capacity of non-profit partners is truly remarkable.
Accepting the award on behalf of the organization were Ralphine Caldwell and Hiba Salih.
