Unveiling the 2025 Transformative Innovation Awards: A New Era in Community Health | PRIMENEWSNOW

Direct Relief has unveiled the 2025 Transformative Innovation Awards in Community Health, focusing on enhancing health outcomes through nutrition. Five organizations will each receive a $150,000 grant to develop or expand innovative nutrition initiatives targeting social determinants of health in underserved areas.

These awards, totaling $750,000, are part of a long-term initiative now in its sixth year, funded by the Baxter Foundation, the charitable branch of Baxter International, and executed by Direct Relief. The program aids community health centers and free clinics in creating programs that blend nutrition education with chronic disease management and mental health services.

The following organizations will receive funding for 18-month projects:

• Tampa Family Health Centers – Tampa, Florida – This federally qualified health center serves Tampa’s diverse population and has initiated a weight management program using lifestyle medicine, integrating nutritional education, physical activity support, behavioral health counseling, and emotional wellness coaching.

• Faith Community Pharmacy – Newport, Kentucky – A charitable pharmacy serving low-income residents, it collaborates with community partners to tackle barriers to healthy habits and social determinants of health.

• Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center – Clarksdale, Mississippi – Serving rural Mississippi Delta communities, this center launched the Healthy Weight and Wellness Program, addressing significant health challenges with innovative treatment, nutritional access, and education strategies.

• St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy – Cincinnati, Ohio – This pharmacy provides medication access to uninsured and underinsured patients, offering culturally and economically tailored education to advance health equity.

• NeoMed Center – Gurabo, Puerto Rico – Serving rural Puerto Rico with both fixed and mobile health services, this center developed the Integrated Nutrition Prescription program for patients with chronic conditions, food insecurity, and behavioral health issues.

Confronting Health Disparities

Community health centers and free clinics are the primary healthcare providers for over 36 million people in medically underserved regions across the U.S. Patients at these facilities face significantly higher rates of chronic conditions, with a 35% greater likelihood of having at least one chronic condition and a 31% higher chance of having two or more.

“Nutrition is crucial for managing chronic diseases, yet many individuals encounter substantial barriers to accessing healthy food and nutrition education,” stated Maris Steward, program manager & regional analyst at Direct Relief. “These awards empower safety net providers to create innovative, culturally relevant programs that address health disparities in their communities.”

Innovative Program Impact

The Transformative Innovation Awards promote integrated healthcare models that extend beyond traditional clinical care. Awardees will utilize community partnerships to enhance outreach and education, developing comprehensive approaches to chronic disease management that include nutrition counseling and mental health services.

“At Baxter and through the Baxter Foundation, we understand that effective healthcare reaches beyond clinic and hospital walls into the daily lives of individuals and patients,” said Verónica Arroyave, vice president of corporate responsibility and global philanthropy at Baxter and executive director of the Baxter Foundation. “By supporting community health centers in implementing nutrition-focused programs, we’re investing in innovative, sustainable strategies to address social determinants of health and strengthen community resilience.”

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