Shepherd’s Hope has announced it is among 40 awardees across 20 U.S. states that received a grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, which mobilizes financial resources for organizations focused on non‐clinical interventions that affect a person's health. Commonly known as the social determinants of health, these factors include an individual’s physical, social, political, cultural, and economic environment.

The grant of $250,000 from the Fund for Health Equity will be used for to help build infrastructure to improve the continuum and access to care in Black and Brown communities while also building a whole‐person approach to patient care with the development of lifestyle modification programs like Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle (HEAL).

“This generous gift allows Shepherd’s Hope to offer free acute and specialty healthcare and medical services to the uninsured and underinsured in Central Florida,” said President & CEO, Pam Gould.  “Additionally, Shepherd’s Hope will continue to serve the health and well‐being of our neighbors by educating patients on how to manage their medications and offer lifestyle education and positive modifications through the HEAL pilot program.”

The 40 awardees included in today's announcement received funding for a wide range of initiatives, including efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce, serve people experiencing homelessness, sustain and restore Indigenous health practices, and reduce infant mortality rates that fall disproportionally along racial and ethnic lines.

"We are pleased to bolster the indispensable work of these grassroots organizations striving to reduce disparities and increase equity among vulnerable populations," said Dr. Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Co‐ Chair of the Fund for Health Equity and Board Director of Direct Relief and Chair of its Medical Advisory Council. "With their deep ties and particular insights into the people and communities they serve, these groups are best suited and most acutely aware of what can make a difference – and it’s a privilege to be able to enable them to do more of it with philanthropic funding that is often difficult to secure within their local communities."

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 U.S. Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.
• Co‐Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Board Director of Direct Relief and Chair of its Medical Advisory Council
• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

The grants announced today follow $1.8 million in funding issued by Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity last month, with support from the AbbVie Foundation. To learn more about the impact this gift will make on the community, please reach out to Roy.barnes@shepherdshope.org