The American Heart Association Social Impact Funds has received a $2 million grant from the Grubhub Community Fund to support food security, technology innovation, and economic resiliency in two major metropolitan areas. The funding will support up to 12 organizations focused on addressing social drivers of health in Chicago and New York City. Four initial organizations have already been identified for support, each addressing critical community needs. CareYaya, a North Carolina-based platform, connects families with pre-health students to provide affordable in-home care. Farm Generations Corporation, a New York-based farmer-owned cooperative, supports agricultural sustainability through its GrownBy e-commerce platform.
Chicago-based organizations Nectar and RiseKit are also recipients of the funding. Nectar focuses on delivering food as medicine through partnerships with charitable food organizations, while RiseKit provides a software platform to help untapped talent find employment and improve economic opportunities. Dr. Regina Benjamin, former U.S. Surgeon General and chair of the Social Impact Funds Impact Investment Committee, emphasized the importance of addressing social determinants of health. Research indicates that where people are born, live, work, and age can significantly impact life expectancy, sometimes creating dramatic differences within just a few miles.
The Social Impact Funds select organizations based on their potential to create lasting community impact and alignment with the American Heart Association's mission of improving health equity. Since its launch in 2018, the program has provided $21.5 million in financial support to over 130 local enterprises, positively impacting nearly 5 million people. Brianna Morris, senior manager of community impact for Grubhub, highlighted the company's commitment to creating meaningful change in its key markets. By supporting innovative organizations through the Grubhub Community Fund, the initiative aims to address systemic barriers to health and economic opportunity.
