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Pfizer Awards $1.75 Million to Support Community Forward Solutions to Address Health Disparities

Thursday, February 06, 2025 - 11:00am


To help address systemic health disparities, The Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective (The Collective) is awarding $1.75 million to seven U.S. non-profit organizations through its Communities Forward grant program.

While the vast majority of people believe Americans should be treated equally with regard to healthcare, regardless of income or race,1 far too many people face structural barriers that impact their ability to reach their best health. Community-based organizations provide key community-led healthcare and social services.  

“Community-based organizations play a crucial role in uplifting those who have been historically marginalized and underserved,” said Niesha Foster, The Collective co-lead and Vice President, Global Health and Social Impact, Pfizer. “Their work is fundamental in making better health possible for all and our continued investment and support of their work is imperative to creating thriving communities.”

Awarded organizations will implement projects addressing health disparities across The Collective’s core pillars—healthcare facilities and delivery; policy; research and data; and workforce pathways—and focus efforts on today’s most pressing barriers to health equity. Grantees include:

“Through our partnership with Pfizer, we are taking a significant step toward amplifying the voices of Native communities and advancing policies that address serious health disparities,” said Francys Crevier, JD (Algonquin), CEO, National Council of Urban Indian Health. “Together, we can drive meaningful improvements in the quality of healthcare services and health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native people.”

Communities Forward projects aim to close gaps in care, including: reducing disparities in breast cancer care and increasing access to resources; expanding opportunities for community health workers; establishing a conduit to help healthcare professional advance into leadership roles; advocating for equitable health policies; expanding community engagement and influencing policies through data gathering; and increasing diverse representation in clinical trials.

By investing in efforts developed and implemented by community-based organizations, The Collective seeks to support tailored solutions directly centered on the needs of populations served.

“By harnessing the insights and expertise of local stakeholders, we aim to design and implement solutions that directly address pressing needs which impact breast cancer outcomes,” Patient Advocate Foundation Executive Vice President Shonta Chambers said. “Our focus on upstream factors, combined with efforts to build capacity for implementing policies that address historical injustices, reflects our commitment to creating lasting change. By partnering with community-based collaborators, we aim to achieve perpetual benefits for the communities we serve and look forward with great hope to expanding our collective impact.”

This latest program builds on The Collective’s ongoing Health Equity in Action Initiative, which included 2024 $2M Communities in Action for Health Equity grants, in partnership with Pfizer’s Institute of Translational Equitable Medicine (ITEM), and more recent $750K charitable contribution made to three community health centers serving Indigenous communities in Oklahoma, which was the site of the most recent Health Equity in Action Summit.

To learn more about The Collective and Pfizer’s ongoing health equity work, visit www.pfizer.com/TheCollective.

 

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1https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2019/dec/health-care-americaextlink label