Month: February 2024

February 28, 2024 /3BL/ – Direct Relief today announced the latest round of grants awarded from its Fund for Health Equity.

“This latest round of more than $7 million in grants, made possible by generous support from MacKenzie Scott, the AbbVie Foundation, and Eli Lilly and Company, is the most recent infusion of funding for organizations deeply committed in eliminating health disparities and improving healthcare quality in their communities,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief COO and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “Direct Relief is proud to support and grateful for the work they do every day.”

The AbbVie Foundation committed $10 million over five years to the Fund for Health Equity in 2020.  Since then, the AbbVie Foundation distributed grants to twenty organizations, and this year, the foundation is awarding $1.6 million in grants to 10 organizations, including: Central City Concern, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Food Well Alliance, Kee Cha-E-Nar Corporation, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, Minority Behavior Health Group, National Black Nurses Association, University of Texas – El Paso, and Vecinos, Inc.

“The AbbVie Foundation is proud to support the 2024 Fund for Health Equity grant recipients and we’re grateful for their work addressing health disparities in historically marginalized communities across the United States,” said Claudia Carravetta, President, AbbVie Foundation; Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “We believe meaningful change begins with communities, and we look forward to listening and learning from all our grant partners who are identifying innovative solutions that further advance health equity.”

Lilly also supported the Fund with a $5 million commitment in early 2021 as part of its Racial Justice Commitment, a robust endeavor to deliver resources like education, health care, economic stability, and jobs within the communities where it operates. Direct Relief distributed a portion of this initial funding to eight awardees across the U.S. since 2021.

This year, $880,000 from Lilly’s commitment will be split between four new awardees: Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Cheyenne River Youth Project, GirlTREK, Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center.

“Lilly’s commitment to social impact goes back nearly 150 years and we remain committed to eliminating disparities that prevent people from living the healthiest life possible today,” said Cynthia Cardona, Head of Social Impact at Lilly. “We sincerely appreciate Direct Relief’s efforts to identify and contribute to worthy organizations that are working to create real change in their local communities around the U.S.”

Since the start of the Fund in 2021, more than $50 million has been provided to support 160 organizations across the U.S.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes the following members:

Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th US Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief COOMartha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at BirminghamJane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic HealthGail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Full list of 2024 Awardees:

Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership, Birmingham, ALAsian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Inc., San Francisco, CACamarena Health, Madera, CACentral City Concern, Inc., Portland, ORCentro Hispano de East Tennessee, Knoxville, TNCheyenne River Youth Project, Inc., Eagle Butte, SDChildren’s Village, Birmingham, ALDenver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, CODuPage Health Coalition, Carol Stream, ILEast Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc., New York, NYEdward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Inc., Worcester, MAFamily Health Centers of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CAFamily Reach Foundation, Boston, MAFood Well Alliance, Inc., Atlanta, GAGirlTREK Incorporated, Washington, DCHealth Outreach Prevention Education, Inc. (HOPE), Tulsa, OKHispanic Health Coalition, Inc., Houston, TXKee Cha-E-Nar Corporation, Klamath, CALa Plazita, Inc. DBA La Plazita Institute, Albuquerque, NMLos Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, Inc., Dallas, TXMexican American Opportunity Foundation, Montebello, CAMinority Behavioral Health Group, Akron, OHMulti-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System, Erie, PANational Association of Hispanic Nurses, Inc., Lexington, KYNational Black Nurses Association, Silver Spring, MDNative Action, Inc., Lame Deer, MTREACH, Las Vegas, NVSanta Cruz Barrios Unidos, Inc., Santa Cruz, CAShared Harvest Foundation, Inc., Culver City, CATell Every Amazing Lady about Ovarian Cancer (TEAL), Cullowhee, NCThe Concilio, Dallas, TXThe Night Ministry, Chicago, ILThe Texas International Institute of Health Profession DBA VCare Clinics, Houston, TXUniversity of Texas Foundation/University of TexasVecinos, Inc., Cullowhee, NCVida Senior Centers, Washington, D.C.Vincent Chin Institute/Asian Health Services, Oakland, CAVirginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, Aloha, OR