This piece was submitted by one of our Pride 365 corporate partners.
CareSource leads with heart and our participation in June’s local Pride celebrations was no exception.
Pride means a variety of different things to each of us in the LGTBQIA+ community but one thing is certain, we know how to show up and celebrate. CareSource ensured we showed up in a big way and supported local Pride events for 2022 in Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati, along with market participation in other states. We sponsored, marched, and we helped show how much we value the well-being and acceptance of our LQBTQIA+ members and employees.
We could share and talk about the hours of preparation invested in each event. We could share how we reached thousands of people and showed support for our communities. We could talk about how it is estimated that 60% of the LGQBTIA+ community is Medicaid-eligible. We could even talk about how ODM (Ohio Department of Medicaid) reached out at our Columbus Pride tent and shared how pleased they were to see us supporting! However, I want to talk about what CareSource and Pride showed me, and that is what a difference we make in each life we touch.
While hosting the Dayton CareSource Pride/Plus booth I was approached by a transwoman who seemed eager to chat. After wishing this individual a “Happy Pride” she let me know she was a member and how grateful she was to CareSource for helping her to come into her truest self by covering her HRT (hormone replacement therapy) drugs. She wanted to say, “Thank you, not only for being here but for helping me be ME!”, I could see the freedom and gratitude written on her face and I could hear it in her words. It left its mark on me and I walked away from Dayton Pride knowing I had just seen my organization live and act out its mission!
Columbus Pride was estimated to see over 700,000 people with 17,000 participants marching in the parade. CareSource took our new Pride banner/logo and joined this huge group of proud supporters. In over an hour of marching, I was so deeply moved by the number of audience members shouting out to our group in happiness and with support. At least on 3 separate occasions, I heard direct shouts “CareSource saved my Life!”. Along the parade route, we were also cheered on with “CareSource is awesome,” “We love CareSource,” and “I have CareSource, Thank you for being here.”
Being a part of the CareSource team and seeing the impact of our outreach firsthand is one of the proudest moments on my career and Pride journey. Thank you to all who participated to make these events so special, and Thank you to each employee making a difference for our members!
