Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. However, stark disparities persist by race and ethnicity, and communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease. The communities most affected by these disparities often have the best solutions to improving food equity. However, systemic barriers often exist, and historically, organizations led by people of color have not had equal access to or benefited from traditional philanthropy funds and resources. In 2024, NYHealth issued an inaugural Request for Proposals (RFP), “Healthy Food, Healthy Lives: Supporting a More Equitable Food System,” to advance racial health equity in the food system. NYHealth awarded the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (Tzu Chi) a grant to participate in this initiative. 

Under this grant, Tzu Chi will implement a Food Is Medicine program to provide its senior clients, a majority of whom are Asian immigrants, with nutritious and culturally appropriate food and nutrition education. It will coordinate resources and services with community care providers and establish a referral program with the Coalition of Asian-American Independent Physicians Association (CAIPA), a professional association representing more than 1,800 New York physicians and serving more than half a million patients in the Asian community. Tzu Chi and CAIPA will work together to identify health care organizations focused on Food Is Medicine, holistic health, or nutrition and refer Tzu Chi clients to services while providing feedback and evaluation on client progress.  

See a full list of grantees working to advance racial health equity in the food system.