Grantees Archive - New York Health Foundation

Newburgh Urban Food and Farm, Inc.

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement policies and practices that shape how local or regional food systems operate. Benefits of food planning include improving food procurement at public institutions, supporting local retail food businesses, and strengthening outreach and enrollment in benefits programs. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored food system plans. With a 2021 NYHealth grant, Newburgh Urban Farm and Food, Inc. (NUFFI) conducted the first in-depth study of Newburgh’s food system, which included 72 community meetings and events and surveys with 600 local leaders and residents. In 2024, NYHealth awarded NUFFI a grant to operationalize its plan to make healthy, local food more available to Newburgh residents.

Under this grant, NUFFI will enhance the city’s emergency food system by reducing overlap and gaps in food availability, building capacity among providers, supporting language access, and facilitating a workgroup of food pantry managers. NUFFI will develop and publish a map of food resources and assets for residents, including food retail locations that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), emergency food schedules and contact information, farmers market programs and schedules, culturally relevant food access points, and food and nutrition education materials. NUFFI will also increase market opportunities for local growers through capacity building, formalize the structure for its task force and working groups, and implement additional programs to increase access to healthy, affordable, local foods.

Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (fiscal sponsor: Syracuse Grows)

Food systems planning is a collaborative process among farmers, retailers, consumers, nonprofits, health systems, and government to develop priorities and implement policies and practices that shape how local or regional food systems operate. Benefits of food planning include improving food procurement at public institutions, supporting local retail food businesses, and strengthening outreach and enrollment in benefits programs. NYHealth is supporting eight food planning groups in New York State that are developing tailored food system plans. With a 2023 NYHealth grant, the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA) created a five-year strategic plan to define the next chapter of its work. In 2024, NYHealth awarded SOFSA a grant to operationalize its strategic plan to make healthy, local food more available in Syracuse, surrounding Onondaga County and Onondaga Nation.

Under this grant, SOFSA will improve transportation to food access points regionally; expand farm-to-institution purchasing; collaborate on efforts to increase lead testing and develop multilingual testing resources for home gardeners; support community-identified solutions to food access issues with mini-grants; and pursue an advocacy and civic engagement strategy.

LiveOn NY

The detrimental impact of climate change on the lives of New Yorkers is becoming more urgent as temperatures soar across the country and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather increases. Discourse about climate change is often centered around its impact on future generations, but little attention has been paid to its disproportionate impact on older adults. The New York State Master Plan for Aging, for example, excludes a major focus on climate change. For the 4.6 million New Yorkers who are ages 60 or older—including 400,000 living in extreme poverty—climate change can have severe consequences for their health. In 2024, NYHealth awarded LiveOn NY a grant to develop an initial statewide climate resilience policy agenda focused on the health needs of older New Yorkers.

Under this grant, LiveOn NY will partner with Weill Cornell Medical College to help officials and partners understand how best to support hard-to-reach older New Yorkers. They will conduct surveys, focus groups, and interviews to assess older adults’ climate-related needs and perceptions; assemble an advisory board to review the findings and develop consensus policy recommendations; and create an online resource hub to help officials and partners understand how best to support hard-to-reach older adults.

The Bodega and Small Business Group (fiscal sponsor: The Institute for Family Health)

Low-income communities of color across New York City are less likely to have access to full-service grocery stores that offer high-quality, affordable food. Residents of these communities often rely on bodegas or small corner stores; there are an estimated 8,000 bodegas across New York City. Studies have shown that individuals shopping at these stores are more likely to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages, salty snacks, and candy. At the same time, research shows that when more fresh produce is available at these stores, consumers purchase more fruits and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages. While there have been efforts to improve healthy food options at bodegas in the past, more work must be done to address the structural issues that make it difficult for small businesses to supply them. In 2024, NYHealth awarded The Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG, formerly the Bodega Association) a grant to test replicable models to profitably source and deliver fresh, healthy, affordable foods to bodegas in the Bronx.

Under this grant, BSBG will engage with nine Bronx-based bodegas on a pilot project to conduct real-world testing of a scalable business model to provide healthy and affordable food options. BSBG will conduct market research with distributors, store owners, and customers to understand their needs and preferences for supplying and purchasing healthy foods; examine consumer preferences and store profitability for different products, product sizes, packaging options, and price points; study different delivery methods; and analyze data to develop a business model for a bodega purchasing collective.

In partnership with Bronx Health REACH, the Center for Sustainable Business at New York University Business School, and Collective Fare (a Brooklyn-based bodega and catering business)

Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty

An estimated 2.3 million Jewish and Muslim Americans live in New York State. Approximately 35% of Jewish Americans keep kosher or prefer consuming kosher food, and 83% of Muslim Americans keep halal or prefer consuming halal food. Data suggest a significant number of these New Yorkers are at risk of food insecurity. One-third of all Muslim American families live near or below the poverty line, and more than a quarter of Jewish Americans have trouble paying for essential bills, including medical care, housing, and food. In 2022, NYHealth awarded Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) a grant to build a coalition of emergency food providers and other stakeholders to make the case for a State policy agenda that supports a culturally responsive and equitable emergency food system. In 2024, NYHealth awarded Met Council a grant formalize a statewide coalition to advocate for and implement policies that improve access to healthy food for food-insecure New Yorkers with religious dietary needs, including kosher and halal needs.

Under this grant, Met Council will advocate for and implement recommendations developed from its statewide survey to improve access to healthy kosher and halal foods. It will form a coalition of food pantry providers and other stakeholders across the State to share best practices; build a framework for setting and advocating for policy priorities; and develop and implement a policy agenda to improve kosher and halal procurement, purchasing, and distribution.

New York Cares

During their time in service, more than half of all military veterans were likely exposed to toxic chemicals and other airborne hazards, including burn pits with open-air combustion of waste. This exposure has led to a range of health complications, including respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other chronic conditions. In addition to toxic exposure illnesses, veterans face mental health challenges exacerbated by compounding crises. Recent federal legislation known as the PACT Act significantly expanded eligibility for health care and mental health services for military veterans. While coordinated outreach efforts have led to significant increases in enrollment, many veterans remain unaware of these benefits or how to apply for them. In 2023, NYHealth awarded a grant supporting the expansion of the New York Cares Mission: VetCheck—a veteran outreach program launched during the pandemic in partnership with the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS). In 2024, NYHealth awarded New York Cares a grant to continue its outreach and education to veterans in New York City to maximize their understanding and use of expanded services.

Under Phase 2 of this grant, New York Cares will continue its partnership with DVS and use its Mission: VetCheck program to reach eligible veterans. It has built a robust referral network to support veterans, including PACT Act enrollment from certified veteran benefit advisors, mental health services from the Military Family Wellness Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Health System, and housing and financial assistance services. Working with DVS, it will obtain a targeted, up-to-date contact list of veterans within the five boroughs; contact veterans through wellness check-in calls; offer information about expanded health care benefits and mental health services, provide education about eligibility and enrollment; screen for suicidal ideation; and connect veterans with resources.

Top searches

Archives: Grantees