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Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity Reaches Organizations in All 50 U.S. States with More than $67 Million in Support

Since 2021, more than 300 grants have been issued to community organizations focused on eliminating health disparities. In the latest round of funding, $4 million was awarded to 28 organizations.

News

Health Equity

Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez provides care at AltaMed, a health center with multiple sites across the L.A. area. AltaMed Foundation was one of several grantees to recently receive funding from Direct Relief's Fund for Health Equity. (Courtesy photo)
By Staff

Direct Relief today announced that more than $67 million has reached community organizations in all 50 U.S. states to organizations working to eliminate health disparities and improve healthcare quality.

Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity was launched in 2021 through the generous support of the AbbVie Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, and Mackenzie Scott. Since then, the Fund has provided assistance to 301 organizations focused on diversification of the healthcare workforce, reducing health disparities, and leveraging technology and innovation to improve access to reliable care.

Included in that total are $4 million in grants to 28 organizations issued this month in the latest round of funding.

“The organizations receiving this support from the Fund for Health Equity are critically important to their communities and play key roles in addressing the systemic barriers that impact health outcomes,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief’s Chief Health Officer and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “This support allows them to do even more to help people reach their potential and live healthy lives.”

The AbbVie Foundation committed $10 million over five years to the Fund for Health Equity in 2020.  Since then, the Foundation’s support has enabled Direct Relief to distribute grants to 50 organizations. This year, the Foundation is awarding $1.58 million in grants to 10 additional organizations through the Fund.

“We are honored to continue our partnership with Direct Relief and proud to support the 2026 Fund for Health Equity grant recipients who are working to address health disparities across the United States,” said Keya Milla, President, AbbVie Foundation and Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “This longstanding partnership exemplifies the AbbVie Foundation’s mission to advance health equity and our commitment to driving transformative change in communities so that everyone can live their healthiest life.”

Lilly also supported the Fund with a $5 million commitment in early 2021, as part of the Lilly 30×30 effort, which aims to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people living in resource-limited settings annually by 2030.

With the support from Lilly’s commitment, Direct Relief has been able to distribute a portion of its Health Equity Fund to 20 awardees across the U.S. since 2021, and an additional four new awardees this year.

“Lilly is proud to contribute to Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity in support of Direct Relief’s charitable work to eliminate health disparities and improve access to quality healthcare in resource-limited communities across the United States.  We look forward to the continued impact that will be made by the community-based organizations supported by the Fund,” said Cynthia Cardona, Lilly’s Vice President of Social Impact.   

The Fund for Health Equity continues to grow, supporting a broad range of community-based organizations addressing issues such as chronic disease management, maternal and child health, mental health services, and culturally competent care.

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

  • Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th U.S. Surgeon General and Founder of Bayou Clinic, Inc. (Co-Chair)
  • Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief’s Chief Health Officer (Co-Chair)
  • Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO of the National Black Nurses Association
  • Jane Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
  • Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Recent grant awardees include:

  • Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership, AL
  • Community Kitchens of Birmingham, AL
  • AltaMed Foundation, CA
  • Family Health Centers of San Diego, CA
  • The Friendship House Association of American Indians, CA
  • Denver Health Foundation, CO
  • Hispanic Health Council Inc., CT
  • Delaware Health Equity Coalition Inc., dba The Delaware
  • Health Empowerment Coalition, DE
  • La Red Health Center, DE
  • All Care Health Center, IA
  • His Hands Ministries, dba His Hands Free Clinic, IA
  • Black Directors Health Equity Agenda, IL
  • Movement is Life, MI
  • Boys and Girls Club Northern Cheyenne Nation, MT
  • Camino Community Development Corp., NC
  • Care Ring, NC
  • Mascoma Community Healthcare, Inc., NH
  • Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, OH
  • LCH Health and Community Services, PA
  • Center in the Park Inc., PA
  • Bandera County Committee on Aging Inc., dba Silver Sage, TX
  • The NATIVE Project, WA
  • St. Clare Health Mission, WI
  • Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, WI
  • Bread of Healing Clinic, WI
  • Outreach Community Health Center, WI
  • Downtown Clinic, WY

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