Hundreds of individuals and families will gain access to behavioral health screening and other resources thanks to the support of 450 guests at the Lowell General Hospital Ball for Community Health Initiatives, held Saturday, March 9 at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston.

The event brought together Lowell General’s leadership, physicians and staff with community leaders in healthcare, business, education and social services from across the Merrimack Valley. Together, they raised $35,620 for Greater Lowell Health Alliance’s NaviGate program Greater Lowell Health Alliance was chosen as this year’s Fund a Need recipient because of its work to address health inequities and improve access to behavioral health resources and education, issues identified as two of the region’s most pressing public health concerns in the region’s latest Community Health Needs Assessment, completed in late 2022.

The NaviGate program will directly fund community health fairs providing onsite care and health screening, as well as learning conferences and collaboratives to educate and strengthen the local behavioral health workforce.

“Greater Lowell Health Alliance plays a pivotal role bringing together organizations and agencies throughout our community, and we could not be prouder to support their work,” Tufts Medicine Lowell General president Amy Hoey said. “NaviGate will help amplify those efforts, bringing behavioral health resources and education directly to those who need them most.”

The Greater Lowell Health Alliance’s mission is to sustain an alliance of community organizations that improves the overall wellbeing of residents of Greater Lowell. As an independent nonprofit, GLHA brings together 250 organizations to leverage resources to eliminate health inequities. Since 2006, GLHA has responded to the reality that health outcomes are influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors.

The Lowell General Hospital Ball for Community Health Initiatives was established in 2006 by Lowell General Hospital, its dedicated medical staff and concerned members of the community.

Co-chairs for this year’s event were Drs. Miret Ibrahim and Allen Hwang. Thank you to event sponsors, including sapphire sponsors Commonwealth Radiology Associates, Eastern Salt Company, Enterprise Bank, Merrimack Valley Emergency Associates, Remedium Pharmacy and Shields Health Care Group; and emerald and valet sponsor Demoulas Foundation.