Community Health

We build partnerships with local organizations to advance health equity in New York City

Roderick Wong, MD

Chairman

One of the hallmarks of our community partnerships is that we go beyond just financial support. Our team truly engages with communities and serves alongside our partners.

Sarah Garwood

Director, Community Engagement

Locally-led development is critical for lasting impact in the community. One thing I love about our work at RTW Foundation is that we really focus our projects on community-led initiatives and shift the power to local leaders. Our partners know the challenges their communities are facing the best, making them best positioned to respond well.

Derek McCracken, MA, MS

Narrative Medicine Educator

CHASI engaged with the narrative health literacy module with both curiosity and an eagerness to try new story-based training techniques. What each person brought to the table individually contributed to collective success.

Anna Allen

Executive Director & Co-Founder, Say Ah!, Inc.

CHASI's Health Literacy Train-the-Trainer program was one of the best we have facilitated. CHASI's trainee staff showed up to each session with enthusiasm, humility, empathy and great insights into the health literacy challenges facing the people they serve. Their ability to work together to learn more about the multifaceted issue of health literacy and to improve their own training skills was inspiring to witness. We would work with them again any day!

100,000+

New Yorkers provided with improved health access through community-based health services, low/no-cost health screenings & resources, appointment transportation, appointment incentives, and other health equity initiatives

177,000+

people received hot meals and groceries provided to combat food insecurity

65,000+

people educated on vaccination, preventative care, coverage options, and improved health literacy

2,438

people across underserved communities provided with culturally responsive mental health support, including 908 frontline healthcare workers

300

healthcare workers trained or hired to respond to underserved communities globally

2,867+

underserved students provided with education support and STEM programs

11,700+

people vaccinated against COVID-19 through support for mobile vaccine services, nurses, community health workers, registration support, and appointment translation

30+

small businesses in Chinatown provided with support to remain open in the face of the pandemic

240

low-income families provided with safe, improved affordable housing

BioQuest

BioQuest is a STEM mentoring program designed to give middle and high school students opportunities to explore diverse careers in science, biotechnology, and medicine.

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Health Equity Grants

At RTW Foundation, we believe that building strong, lasting relationships with our Grant Partners is the cornerstone of meaningful change.

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Days of Action

RTW Foundation and our community health partners are committed to advancing health equity by addressing key social determinants of health in NYC and beyond. One key way we achieve this is through our Days of Action.

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Community Health Partners

BioBus

BioBus works to create scientific community for people excluded from science, reaching 700 students through five events at two schools. 11 students through one explore program, and launching two junior scientist internships.

BioEyes

BioEyes worked with over 2000 students in the BioEYES tenure, ICT classrooms to bring live science to students with learning and behavioral disabilities, over 18 teachers in the East Harlem district, and worked in 11 schools in the East Harlem area.

Areté Education

Arete Education provided 18 families in temporary housing with $100 weekly stipends, groceries, hotspots and laptops, mentoring and daily attendance support for 8 weeks.

Hunts Point Alliance for Children

HPAC provided 96 hours of triage support and 8 hours of workshops for teachers and students, established referral partnership with Urban Health Plan for further counseling needs, and trained 5th grade teachers in the Mood Meter tool. The Mood Meter was used by 377 students at PS 48 and 100% of students and teachers would recommend it saying it "makes my day better" and "breathing helps me calm down".

Rutgers

Three Rutgers scholars are advancing global health, one scholar completing a four-week international residency in Kampala, Uganda gaining knowledge, perceptions, and curriculum development on sickle cell disease and hydroxyurea treatment. Another scholar completed Cardiac Point of Care Ultrasound training for physicians, nurses, and CHWs in Mampong, Ghana.

Community Health

Roderick Wong, MD

Sarah Garwood

Derek McCracken, MA, MS

Anna Allen

Community Health Impact to Date