RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Health Equity Fund (HEF) announces $135,000 in continued funding for community organizations providing services in the following areas: 

• Access to Healthcare and Education Resources 
• Chronic Disease and Underlying Health Conditions 
• Food Access and Security 
• Maternal and Child Health 
• Mental and Behavioral Health 

“The Health Equity Fund embodies what it means to build a Thriving Richmond, where families, neighborhoods, and communities have the resources they need and deserve to live healthy, full lives,” said Richmond Mayor Danny Avula. “I’m so thrilled to continue investing in trusted, community-led organizations that create real opportunity and advance health equity where it matters most. We’re deeply grateful to the community partners whose leadership makes this possible.” 

“The Health Equity Fund continues to drive meaningful progress in closing health disparity gaps that have persisted for decades,” said City of Richmond Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services Amy Popovich. “By investing in these seven organizational partners, we’re supporting proven, community-led programs that continue to reflect what a Thriving Richmond can be. This funding reflects our belief that every resident deserves the chance to thrive and that equity is achieved when we resource those closest to the work.”  

New and renewed funding 

The Richmond Health Equity Fund invests in community-led programs, initiatives, and leaders to improve health and quality of life in communities experiencing deep health disparities and the longstanding impacts of racism. To-date, the HEF has designated over $4.3 million, including $397,398 in new funding and an additional $135,000 in continued funding for community organizations announced today: 

• Access to Healthcare and Education Resources  
  
  • CrossOver Healthcare Ministry provides integrated chronic disease care and education to uninsured or Medicaid patients who are City of Richmond residents. 
  • Health Brigade provides communicable disease testing, treatment, and linkage to care specifically for syphilis, hepatitis C virus (HCV), tuberculosis (TB), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to low income, uninsured and underinsured Richmond residents. 
• Chronic Disease and Underlying Health Conditions  
  
  • Healthy Hearts Plus provides both the eight-week virtual Community Based Diabetes Self-Management Education program, and the Food is Medicine delivery program to help participants to lower their A1Cs, lose weight, and manage associated comorbidities through subtle lifestyle changes.   
• Food Access and Security  
  
  • Kinfolk Community produces culturally appropriate food, trains youth in urban agriculture, and improves physical and mental health within historically underserved communities through health education, community care events, and restorative practices. 
  • Shalom Farms maintains the Mobile Market program through the general and shoulder (extended) market season, keeping up with inflating costs, and funding additional value-add products from other producers at the markets. 
• Maternal and Child Health  
  
  • Urban Baby Beginnings is expanding longer-term care coordination staffing and resources for birthing and postpartum individuals and their infants in Richmond City. 
• Mental and Behavioral Health   
  
  • Drums No Guns Foundation provides programming in the mindfulness room, expanding the reach of community circles, enhancing programming in the school and community garden, as well as increasing involvement of students in the Generation Dream educational concert. 

History of the Health Equity Fund 

In October 2021, the City of Richmond established the Health Equity Fund to focus on key areas of health disparity through an initial investment of $5 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Since then, the HEF has diversified its funding sources to include City of Richmond non-departmental funding and investments from The Community Foundation, The Bob and Anna Lou Schaberg Foundation, Atlantic Union Bank, Dominion Charitable Foundation, and the Robins Foundation. 

Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov