American Heart Association Social Impact Funds Seek Community-Led Solutions to Improve Health Disparities in Underresourced Communities
NEW YORK, March 25, 2024 – Business closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced support services available to New Yorkers amid public health implications including food insecurity, housing instability and financial stress[1]. The conditions in which we live partly explain why some people are healthier than others[2].
Celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service, the American Heart Association is opening applications for $500,000 in funding through its Social Impact Funds for entrepreneurs and organizations in the New York metro area actively working to remove social and economic barriers to justice in healthcare.
“To ensure that every person has the same opportunity to live a full, healthy life, we must remove the barriers that exacerbate economic, social and health disparities in our communities,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Liz Elting and the Elizabeth Elting Foundation’s support of the association’s Social Impact Funds helps ensure local organizations have the funding they need to develop scalable solutions that create healthier, more resilient communities.”
Local businesses and organizations working to address economic empowerment, access to healthy food, housing, recidivism, access to quality health care, transportation and educational opportunities are invited to submit formal expressions of interest to the American Heart Association before 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Social Impact Fund enterprises can be for-profit or for-profit social entrepreneurs at any business stage actively working in the community. The funds specifically support social enterprises targeting access to health and health care, economic empowerment and food security.
This second round of funding is the result of a multi-year commitment to the Association’s Social Impact Funds by Liz Elting, Michael Berlant and the Elizabeth Elting Foundation in New York, which established the Elizabeth Elting Fund to prioritize support for led by women’s organizations and entrepreneurs from New York’s under-resourced communities.
“There are so many entrepreneurs across the country looking to bring innovative ideas to life, yet countless emerging leaders face a number of challenges as they work to establish and grow their businesses,” said Liz Elting, longtime supporter of American Heart Association and founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation. “The Elting Fund is dedicated to supporting the efforts of the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds to remove barriers for entrepreneurs and startups. This new round of funding is critical to ensure that business leaders can turn their dreams into reality and have the chance to help everyone live longer and healthier lives.”
The Elting Fund recently funded four organizations in Brooklyn and Queens:
- Brooklyn Packers (BP) is a Black-led, worker-owned cooperative whose mission is to build food sovereignty in Brooklyn by ensuring that quality food is always available to low-income and food-insecure community members. BP serves as a conduit between farms to source, package and distribute locally grown produce through a weekly Community Supported Agriculture program.
- Nourish Spot is a black-owned quick-serve restaurant offering nutrient-dense salads, smoothies and soups made with fresh fruits and produce. Recognizing the neighborhood’s persistent health challenges, the initiative works to help heal community members through food.
- She Matters is a digital platform that improves health outcomes for Black women by building understanding and trust among health professionals and mothers by providing community access, certified health professionals, education and culturally appropriate resources.
- Strong Children Wellness is an integrated health care network that embeds technology-enabled physical health, mental health, and social care services within trusted community-based organizations to provide comprehensive care for psychosocially and medically complex children and families in underserved communities. resource.
Since launching in 2018, American Heart Association Social Impact Funds have supported more than 130 local social enterprises across the country.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with multiple organizations and supported by millions of volunteers, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for public health and share life-saving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. In 2024 – our centenary year – we celebrate our rich 100-year history and achievements. As we move forward into our second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to improve health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us at heart.org, Facebook, x or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For media inquiries:
Mark Hurley, 212-878-5932, [email protected] or Diego Ortiz Quintero, 212-878-5903, [email protected]
For public inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
[2] Magnan S. Social Determinants of Health 201 for Health Care: Plan, Do, Research, Act. NAM Perspective. 2021