Written by:
Bridget Therriault
Head of Internal Communications, US & Executive Director, AstraZeneca Foundation
Since joining AstraZeneca more than four years ago, I’ve seen first-hand how our organization is committed to creating long-term and sustainable change for patients in the disease areas and communities we serve. Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of championing the great work our Accelerate Change Together (ACT) on Health Equity initiative is supporting in the US.
Since its launch in 2021, US ACT on Health Equity has invested more than $15 million in nonprofit organizations and their health equity programming through our Community Solutions and National Strategic Collaborations. This includes $3.5 million to our 2024-2025 cohort of 53 nonprofit organizations to improve access and affordability in communities—further progressing our US roadmap to advance health equity.
Increasing access to local resources through the Community Solutions Challenge
Through the US ACT on Health Equity: Community Solutions Challenge, we awarded 45 local and regional nonprofits $30,000 each totaling more than $1.3 million. Funding will support tailored initiatives designed to reduce barriers to care, such as tackling food insecurity and waste, providing breast cancer patients with care packages, creating pathways to successful STEM careers and offering housing for families who must travel out of state for medical treatment.
For example, Community Solutions Challenge recipient Equal Hope is committed to expanding early oncology cancer detection through outreach, education and patient navigation as part of their program ‘EmpowerHER: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare Access for Women of Color.’ Based in Chicago, Equal Hope discovered that from 2005-2007, Black Chicago women died of breast cancer at a rate 62% higher than White women. Their goal is to more holistically help uninsured, underinsured and publicly insured women achieve sustainable outcomes and true health equity. Learn more about the transformative work our other Community Solutions Challenge recipients are doing at the end of the blog.
Advancing culturally competent chronic disease care through National Strategic Collaborations
Through our National Strategic Collaborations, we are proud to commit more than $2.1 million in support of eight nonprofit organizations. This investment will bolster critical health equity efforts both nationwide and in specific regions, focusing on areas where AstraZeneca’s expertise lies—such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart failure, lupus and oncology. These initiatives aim to break down the obstacles preventing underserved communities from accessing optimal healthcare, ensuring that everyone has a fair opportunity to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Caring Hearts, the program run by National Strategic Collaborations recipient American College of Cardiology Foundation, focuses on improving access to care and healthy food choices by targeting specific ZIP codes where there are persistent gaps in health outcomes and life expectancy resulting from cardiovascular risk factors. Their main pillars are health activation through screenings and educational infographics, connection through available grassroots network resources and convenience in corner stores and community centers. This is just one example of the impactful programs our National Strategic Collaborations will support this upcoming year. See a full list of National Strategic Collaborations recipients below.
Learn more about our recipients and the impact they make within their communities below.
Community Solutions Challenge
Aaron Donald 99 Solutions Foundation
Fuel for Success is a healthy eating initiative with an in-school food pantry for under-resourced student-athletes. The pantry houses nutritious food (e.g., fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, etc.) and other necessities like sportswear and personal hygiene products, while licensed dieticians provide nutritional education accessible to students, caregivers, school personnel and sports organizations throughout the school year.
The ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) Positive Second Opinion Program aims to improve the life expectancy and quality of life for ALK-positive cancer patients by providing access to expert medical consultations with leading oncologists and referrals to second opinion doctors to connect patients to the latest expertise and developments. This program aims to connect more patients with specialized care, ensuring they receive the most effective treatment recommendations, which can lead to better outcomes and increased awareness among ALK-positive specialist oncologists.
Escalera: College & Career Readiness Program for High School Students is a two-year college and career readiness program that provides tools and resources to 11th and 12th grade students from under-resourced southeast and east Los Angeles schools to help them graduate high school, enroll in college and be exposed to professional career options and mentorships in the STEM and healthcare fields. Escalera’s purpose is to ensure the development of a well-trained diverse workforce; develop a source of future healthcare professionals who will provide culturally competent and linguistically appropriate care and lift a generation of young people out of poverty into stable living-wage careers.
The American Lung Association will provide two evidence-based programs – Kickin’ Asthma and Open Airways – to Illinois elementary, middle and high schools in high-risk, marginalized and historically underserved parts of the state. These are two self-management education programs that educate and empower youth through an interactive approach to detect the warning signs of asthma and make decisions about their health. American Lung Association-trained facilitators teach these programs and school staff (nurses, teachers, health care aids and other professionals) will be trained to be in-person facilitators for students with asthma.
Asociación Latina de Asistencia y Prevencion del Cancer de Mama
Asociación Latina de Asistencia’s (ALAS) health educational programs address the lack of access to high quality, linguistically and culturally appropriate breast health care, including diagnosis, treatment education and reaching Hispanic/Latina women and their families/caregivers. They aim to serve 100 survivors and caregivers with personalized services in every phase of the breast cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship. Outcomes specific to achieving these goals include increasing the number of individuals who access the programs’ mental health services and attend their psychosocial education workshops.
The Georgia Food for Health (GF4H) Program delivers farm-fresh local produce to the Harrisburg and Laney Walker communities, focusing on promoting healthy habits to enhance health outcomes for residents with food-related health conditions living in food deserts or swamps in Augusta. The program aims to lower metrics such as blood pressure, BMI, weight and blood glucose levels, while also reducing reliance on medications through improved eating habits. Weekly produce distributions address food insecurity, culinary classes offer skills for preparing vegetables in diverse ways to boost kitchen confidence and whole-body wellness classes provide essential techniques for improving mental well-being.
Bags of Hope's mission is to spread love, strength and hope to breast cancer patients through cleaner beauty products, one bag at a time. This year, the program aims to increase the number of bags mailed out by 25%, which would be over 2,100 women receiving clean beauty products, educational materials and messages of love and hope. The funds from this grant will help Bags of Hope get closer to making this goal a reality.
Bandera County Committee on Aging
Caminos Hacia la Igualdad: Pathways to Equality aims to address food insecurity, promote healthy eating habits and reduce social isolation among underserved Hispanic seniors in the Texas Hill Country. By providing culturally appropriate food distribution, nutrition education and opportunities for socialization, they seek to empower seniors to lead healthier, more connected and dignified lives. Their goal is to foster a more equitable and inclusive community where every individual feels supported and valued.
Bringing Hope Home is a nonprofit organization that provides “unexpected amazingness” to local families with cancer through financial and emotional support. Through the Light of Hope Family program, they offer one-time financial assistance to pay essential household bills for families with cancer.
Launchpad prepares Philadelphia high school students from traditionally underrepresented communities for high paying careers in technology. This comprehensive 2.5-year program begins midway through 11th grade and immerses students in over 2,000 hours of rigorous training. Participants gain crucial software development skills, industry exposure, durable skills and real-world experience, while earning up to 30 college credits and industry-recognized certifications. Students are prepared for immediate employment in technology, with students placed in roles with starting salaries of $50,000 or more with over 90% of employed graduates maintaining or advancing in their positions after one year.
Byrd Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation
The Cancer Connect Navigator Program aims to bridge the gap between patients and necessary healthcare services by providing personalized navigation, emotional support and practical assistance. Through community outreach, education and collaborative partnerships, they strive to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their families, advocating for equitable access to care and support.
Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana (CAGLA)
With the new #TeamPatient initiative, Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana (CAGLA), aims to further improve cancer care in Louisiana by fostering communication and collaboration between doctors, hospital systems, pharmaceutical companies and policymakers with the goal of improving cancer outcomes in the state.
Caregiving Volunteers of Central Jersey
Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey (CVCJ) plays a vital role in improving health outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for the aging population, including disabled individuals, veterans and caregivers in the community. By providing essential services such as medical transportation, grocery shopping, friendly visits, caregiver respite, minor home repair and information and resources, CVCJ addresses social isolation, promotes independence and ensures access to essential healthcare services.
Centre Volunteers in Medicine is the only free clinic in Centre County, Pennsylvania, and one of the very few in Central Pennsylvania. Patients at Centre Volunteers in Medicine encompass a diverse background, including rural residents, refugees, immigrants and those who make 250% or less of the federal poverty guidelines without medical insurance. Every patient is provided case management, medical, dental and behavioral health services as appropriate in their native language. This grant allows the clinic to reduce waiting time for case management to less than two weeks and provide translation services for all patients who need them.
The Tech and Innovation Summer Internship Program provides high school and college students with real-world professional experience in the tech industry, empowering them to build their own startups. Coded By Kids’ goal is to develop well-rounded future leaders in tech through hands-on projects and industry exposure, focusing on project/product management, web development, and user experience/interface design. Students participate in professional workshops and site visits, guided by expert mentors, to enhance their skills and knowledge. Previous cohorts reported a significant increase in their interest in the tech space and startups, demonstrating the program's success in inspiring and preparing the next generation of tech leaders.
The ACE Brigade, a collaboration between Con Corazon and South Texas Allergy & Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) Allergy, is a pilot program aimed at addressing the growing asthma crisis in underserved South Texas communities. Focused on vulnerable populations in border cities, the program utilizes a mobile medical unit for early asthma detection and comprehensive assessments. By partnering with local healthcare providers and integrating remote patient monitoring, this initiative seeks to enhance access to specialized care and improve long-term health outcomes.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County
The Capital Region SNAP-Ed Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) Program represents an innovative approach to tackling chronic disease and improving public health through nutrition. By partnering to integrate nutrition supports and education into the healthcare landscape, FVRx programs empower individuals and families to make healthier food choices, directly linking the health benefits of fruits and vegetables with the prevention and management of diseases. Limited-resourced and chronically ill community members will increase their consumption of produce and increase their nutrition-related knowledge and skills, improving the conditions of their health.
eCLOSE provides opportunities for students from every background and experience to conduct biomedical research focused on the health disparities experienced by their loved ones. eCLOSE's goal is to transform the biomedical research workforce to mirror the demographics of communities with the greatest health needs and, in doing so, uncover effective, inexpensive and diet-based interventions for disease prevention and improvement of health outcomes.
The EmpowerHER Program represents Equal Hope's commitment to expanding early detection through outreach, education and patient navigation, building upon their existing breast and cervical cancer program. Chicago's breast and cervical cancer mortality disparity has been increasing even though there is access to high-quality screening and cervical cancer is almost 100% preventable with vaccination. Data indicates Hispanic women are at a higher risk for cervical cancer and Black women have the highest death rate in both breast and cervical cancer. Concerning both, there is a critical need to promote the importance of screening through navigation to services at no cost.
GHRO Your Future is an educational enrichment program for girls ages 12 to 18. Through biweekly workshops, young girls are equipped with the skills needed to improve their overall academic performance and support their social-emotional development. Not only does this expose girls to STEM, but it gives them the practical tools they need to achieve success in school and future careers.
Black and African-Descent Collaborative for Prostate Cancer Action (BACPAC) is a community of patients, partners, advocates and researchers brought together with the mission of improving prostate cancer care for Black and African-descent men through community-based research and advocacy. In the United States, Black and African-descent men are 60% more likely to develop prostate cancer and 120% more likely to die from prostate cancer. Through research, BACPAC seeks to find out why these prostate cancer disparities exist and use that knowledge to improve the health of men in the community.
Full STEAM Forward is dedicated to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty by increasing access to high-quality Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEAM) programs for girls of color from underserved communities. Their mission of empowering young girls by creating a passion for the sciences is supported by a multi-year program designed to build knowledge, foster creative problem-solving skills and boost self-confidence. For the 2024-25 school year, Full STEAM Forward will provide free after-school programs for over 250 girls in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Ultimately, they look to expand the pipeline of young women of color entering STEAM fields so that they can attain transformative socio-economic changes for themselves and their communities.
Greater New York City Black Nurses Association
Greater New York City Black Nurses Association is collaborating with Harlem Healthy Hearts to screen individuals in the local community for hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors. They will also educate patients about healthy heart living, cardiometabolic risk factors and management. To reach underserved individuals in Harlem, they will deploy equipped mobile units, organize health fairs, conduct interactive workshops, provide a list of local providers and establish a care coordination team of volunteers. To reach the local community, they will partner with local businesses in East Harlem to distribute vouchers and offer group sessions to teach participants how to incorporate healthy food choices into their diets.
To address the disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and nutrition-related chronic diseases across the 27 communities of North Central, Massachusetts, Growing Places Garden Project aims to create equitable access to healthy food for residents by leveraging the region’s food and farm assets. They focus on combatting the barriers that are preventing residents from consuming healthy food by leveraging their developing local food processing center to implement strategies to combat the prevalent rates of nutrition-related chronic diseases and food insecurity in the region, via a multi-pronged approach.
Founded in 1983 as the first program of its kind in the nation, Hospitality Homes provides free and low-cost short-term medical housing for patients, families and caregivers who must travel to Boston for specialized medical care. The model is unique among medical lodging programs in the area: Hospitality Homes offers a place to stay to anyone traveling to receive care at a Boston-area hospital, regardless of background, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, diagnosis or treatment facility. Grounded by over 140 volunteers who open their homes to guests each year, Hospitality Homes’ approach reduces barriers to accessing medical care and connects patients to the lifesaving treatments they need to survive.
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia
Our Closet In Your Neighborhood (OCIYN) is a free mobile program that provides those in need across the city with the basic necessities of food and clothing, as well as access to services and benefits. OCIYN partners with host sites in under-resourced neighborhoods and central locations, bringing fresh, healthy produce and pantry staples, a mini pop-up clothing shop and an onsite social worker. There are no referrals required or forms to fill out. All free, quality food and clothing items are provided with dignity and respect in a warm and welcoming environment.
Martin Center Sickle Cell Inc.
The Martin Center Sickle Cell Initiative strives to assist sickle cell patients and their families with the support of food pantries and hydration services. The program aims to increase patient education on the importance of nutrition and hydration, while extending outreach and access to food and hydration items by offering delivery services where needed. These services will help improve equity in access and address social determinants of health factors, such as food and transportation needs.
Maryland Foundation of Dentistry
The Maryland Foundation of Dentistry aims to restore oral health and dental function for Maryland adults with disabilities who cannot afford to pay for care. Dental health is the body's mirror for a person's physical well-being and self-esteem. Their initiative addresses the lack of access and affordability of quality dental care for this segment of the population.
MetroWest Free Medical Program
For 20 years, MetroWest Free Medical Program has provided direct access to medical care for individuals in the community who are uninsured or underinsured. Their mission is fulfilled by engaging volunteers, from pre-medical college students to retired physicians, in making a direct and immediate impact in people’s lives. They ensure patients have access to women’s health, general medical and vision care.
Mission of Mercy provides free medical, vision, dental and mental healthcare to uninsured and underserved working South Texans. These include patients who work, do not qualify for public assistance, cannot get health insurance through their employer or cannot afford to purchase health insurance or healthcare on their own. They become the medical home for people who do not have one and create continuity of care by providing regular access to physicians, medical providers and prescription medications.
Mobile Care Chicago’s mission is to deliver no-cost medical and preventative care, education and support to low-income children and families within their communities aboard mobile medical clinics. Mobile Care currently operates two Asthma Vans for children with severe asthma and/or allergies, a Dental Van for children who need oral surgery, and a Portable Dental Clinic which can be set up inside of schools to make referrals out to the Dental Van. In total, Mobile Care Chicago’s mobile clinics serve roughly 8,000 patients per year, seeing the vast majority multiple times per year.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be emotionally overwhelming and financially distressing, especially with the rising costs of treatment. Munson Healthcare’s Cancer Drug Repository (CDR) program in northern Michigan attempts to alleviate the financial burden of cancer treatment by accepting and redistributing donated cancer medications to eligible patients. By establishing a centralized regional hub for the collection, storage and distribution of donated medications, Munson’s underserved rural communities will have more equitable access.
Oakland Natives Give Back Fund
The Girls Equity Movement (GEMs) is an innovative program designed to empower high school girls, particularly those from marginalized communities, by equipping them with essential skills in STEM, entrepreneurship and leadership. The program serves young women who are often underrepresented in these fields, providing them with hands-on experience, mentorship and mental health support. GEMs foster the development of confident, capable leaders who are prepared to thrive in their educational pursuits and future careers. The project aims to bridge the gender gap in STEM and entrepreneurship while promoting long-term community impact through these empowered young women.
Early detection of breast cancer saves lives, but far too many underserved and uninsured women in Dallas County go without essential screening and diagnostic services due to barriers like cost or lack of transportation. Parkland Health believes that the key to reversing this trend is ensuring that routine screenings are accessible and affordable, reaching high-risk women where they live, work and learn. Through a partnership with AstraZeneca, they hope to reduce the rate of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses (stage III and IV) among underserved women in Dallas. Parkland Health Foundation believes that together, we can close the gap in late-stage breast cancer diagnoses, one woman at a time.
Pink Space Theory is dedicated to breaking down the barriers that prevent underrepresented students, particularly girls, from pursuing careers in STEM. Pink Space Theory provides hands-on STEM learning experiences for students from preschool through 12th grade in Prince William County, Virginia, focusing on preparing them for future opportunities in science and engineering. By partnering with businesses, schools and universities, they offer workforce development programs that expose youth to various career paths while equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in STEM fields.
Piscataquis Regional Food Center
The Healthy Additions program helps low-income rural Mainers access healthy, fresh foods and supports individuals living with diabetes, hypertension and other chronic health conditions. Certain barriers such as limited access to fresh and nutritious foods, financial constraints that prevent individuals and families from purchasing healthy options and a lack of education on nutrition and healthy eating habits contribute. Additionally, rural isolation and transportation challenges can further complicate these issues, making it difficult for low-income families to access resources.
Plan A Health Clinics Program aims to bring care directly into healthcare deserts, addressing barriers to care and ensuring that all community members have access to the vital, compassionate care that they require and deserve. Services are provided free of charge, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Mobile clinics bring care directly to where it's needed most, offering primary care screenings, cervical and breast cancer screenings, HIV testing and family planning. Community health workers are trained community members who provide screening, education, and patient navigation services, ensuring better diagnosis and treatment.
Regional Environmental Council
Youth Growing Organics in Worcester (YouthGROW) is a youth development and urban agriculture employment program for teens ages 14 to 18 based on three urban farms in Worcester MA that annually serves 40 young people from historically underserved neighborhoods. The program takes a holistic approach to supporting participants with a focus on youth leadership, participatory program design, and teaching youth the skills they need to be successful in life. YouthGROW harvest feeds the youth and their families, is sold affordably in neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity through Mobile Farmers Market and is donated to local food pantries.
This program takes existing LGBTQIA+ Pop Out Clinics to the 2024 New England Sex Work Summit in Burlington, VT to provide health and wellness services by communities, for communities. Members are those with lived experiences in the sex trade (sex workers and survivors of trafficking) and have various intersections as BIPOC, transgender and gender non-conforming, queer, disabled, low-income, food and housing unstable, or formerly incarcerated. The goal is to provide high-quality health and wellness services, de-stigmatization, connection and joy to hyper-marginalized underserved communities living under criminalization, oppression and stigma in New England.
Tech Academies is a K-12 educator professional development program that strengthens STEM learning and ensures education leaders can integrate hands-on engineering and computational thinking into core subjects for students from economically disadvantaged communities. Fellows receive over 80 hours of professional development and emerge as Engineering Education Leaders who are providing support for STEM initiatives throughout their districts. Tech Academies is a long-term commitment to local partnerships with districts to help build universal, justice-centered access in Fellows' classrooms reaching the most impacted by systemic inequities.
TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation improves the quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer by providing evidenced-based specialized breast cancer rehabilitation services while reducing socio-economic, racial, cultural and geographic barriers to care. While research indicates engaging in physical therapy and exercise while on a breast cancer journey improves mobility, range of motion and reduces the recurrence of cancer, less than 20% of survivors are referred for rehabilitative care. Research also documents racial disparity in breast cancer survivorship outcomes for Black, Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ patients due to various barriers to care. The Atlanta Initiative was established to increase access to care and reduce disparity for Black, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized breast cancer survivors in Atlanta.
Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services' programming addresses food insecurity among people experiencing homelessness. To meet the growing need for nutritious food within the community and those they serve, this year Union Station Homeless Services is reaching their goal of serving nearly 600,000 meals to people across Northeast Los Angeles and the entire San Gabriel Valley. The meals also serve as an opportunity to teach people about nutrition, engage people in their services and attract community volunteers to assist in reducing the stigma surrounding homelessness.
Urban Education's STEMAcad is transforming lives through technology by focusing on IT career and workforce development. The organization is helping women, mothers and youth of color from low-income and distressed communities achieve financial stability, break barriers and seize opportunities in the tech industry. Through Urban Education's upskilling and reskilling efforts, they are also expanding the minority pool of tech and engineering talent, driving change and fostering equity among employers throughout the DC region and beyond.
Us Helping Us, People Into Living Inc.
PantryPower is a culturally relevant and appropriate food pantry that will increase access to nutritious foods, provide educational resources and foster supportive environments conducive to healthy living. Utilizing an HIV status-neutral approach, PantryPower ensures equitable food services for their beneficiaries. The program will consist of two comprehensive food pantries located at the Landover, MD and Washington D.C. offices, strategically targeting areas identified as food deserts. Additionally, the program will consist of nutritional education, cooking demonstrations and meal-planning workshops, facilitated through collaborations with organizations focused on food security and nutrition services.
UTEC's Madd Love Meals (MLM), is an essential food relief and job training program that serves community members in Lawrence, Lowell and Haverhill, MA. UTEC works with broad-line food distributors and local farms to provide high-quality and culturally sensitive groceries for young adults in UTEC’s program (who are primarily formerly incarcerated and/or parole-involved), to family members of incarcerated young adults, and to 11 community partner organizations that serve food- insecure populations impacted by crime and violence. MLM reaches families that would not otherwise have access to fresh food and grocery items while providing an opportunity for young adults to gain hands-on culinary skills training and to learn about the food industry as well as food justice.
National Strategic Collaborations
VOICES of Black Women, a groundbreaking initiative led by the American Cancer Society, is calling on Black women from all walks of life to join the movement. VOICES of Black Women will examine how lived experiences, biology, lifestyle and behaviors, environment, type of insurance, access to high-quality and timely care, social determinants of health, provider trust and relationships and systemic racism contribute to health status over time and affect cancer incidence and mortality rates among Black women. Each analyzed factor will provide ACS with insight on how to implement clinical, social and/or policy interventions for Black women at the individual, system and population levels.
American College of Cardiology Foundation
Caring Hearts is an initiative in collaboration with its technology partner, Higi, and local community partners in Buffalo, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Camden, NJ and San Jose, CA. Caring Hearts focuses on two social determinants of health to reduce historical health inequities: access to care and access to healthy food choices. The program targets specific ZIP codes in each city with persistent gaps in health outcomes and life expectancy resulting, in part, from higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors – particularly high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. The three main pillars of Caring Hearts are health activation through screenings and educational infographics, connection through available grassroots network resources, and convenience in corner stores and community centers.
American Heart Association, Inc.
HeartCorps addresses health inequities to develop a new generation of public health leaders in the rural US. This program made 100 full-time service member opportunities available across 26 states and is set to expand to place members in clinical and community sites in up to 44 states. HeartCorps members serve directly with partnering sites to facilitate the adoption and implementation of sustainable practices for addressing blood pressure, nutrition security, tobacco control and health promotion, including community readiness. They aim to recruit, train and deploy up to 125 full and part-time AmeriCorps service members to predominantly rural communities to execute and implement health equity interventions and impact 10,000 patients and community members.
Association of Black Cardiologists
The Community Health Advocate Training (CHAT) Program trains up to 30 individuals per city to become Community Health Advocates, offering specialized education in heart health advocacy through the "With Every Heartbeat is Life" curriculum. This initiative seeks to heighten awareness and implement strategies to address heart disease risk factors, particularly focusing on reducing health inequities within African American communities. CHAT emphasizes the development of strong community connections and interactive learning, preparing advocates to effectively interact with healthcare systems and policymakers. This approach aims to foster meaningful policy and practice changes, leading to improved health outcomes in historically marginalized populations.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
In 2022, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) launched the Health Equity Advancement and Leadership (HEAL) Program to reduce health disparities and break down barriers to optimal asthma outcomes. The largest HEAL initiative aims to build and support effective, comprehensive, community-based interventions for asthma by providing financial and technical support to community-based asthma programs. Through the HEAL program, AAFA provides funding and resources to local pilot programs tailored to populations most impacted by asthma. AAFA supports programs in Alabama, Allentown, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York City and Saginaw.
BlackDoctor Foundation introduced several programs to address the challenges Black patients encounter. These initiatives have brought influential medical experts to the community, dispelled myths and misinformation and provided tools and resources to help Black patients live healthier lives. These programs reached Black patients nationwide, enabling many to gain a better understanding of their health challenges and become champions for their personal health and for those they care for.
Our CLEAR program aims to address the high prevalence and underdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rural western West Virginia, southern Ohio and northeastern Kentucky through a multifaceted approach that combines community engagement, health education and direct clinical support. West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky all have higher rates of COPD compared to the national average. The incidence of COPD in these states ranges from 8.5 to 12.3%. By partnering with local healthcare providers, community organizations and pulmonary rehabilitation centers, the COPD Foundation seeks to create a sustainable impact on COPD awareness, diagnosis and, ultimately, management.
Genetics for Life provides individualized, culturally relevant and psychosocial support to Jewish women and families at increased risk for and diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer. The program also educates the healthcare community, Jewish community and the next generation about the increased risk for hereditary cancer among Jewish families as well as the importance of genetic testing and family history. The goal of Genetics for Life is to fill critical gaps in access to hereditary cancer tools and education, including early diagnosis, life-saving screening methods and informed treatment decision-making when facing a diagnosis.