New $1M grant targets health disparities in South St. Pete

The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and Orlando Health’s Bayfront Hospital are launching a new $1 million grant initiative aimed at addressing health disparities in South St. Petersburg.​

The Healthy People 2025 grant program will fund up to four multi-sector collaborations, each eligible for up to $250,000. The goal is to support systemic changes in the social determinants of health, such as housing, education and economic opportunity.​

The grant launch event is scheduled for Wednesday (April 23) from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Foundation’s Center for Health Equity, 2333 34th St. South. The event will include a Q&A session for interested applicants.​

“To most effectively improve the lives and health of people in our community, we must collaborate across sectors,” said Dr. Kanika Tomalin, President and CEO of the Foundation, in a prepared statement. “Working systemically to address the root causes of problems will move us closer to creating a community in which good health enables all people to thrive.”​

The initiative follows the release of the South St. Pete Health Equity Profile, which highlighted significant disparities in chronic disease, neighborhood safety and maternal-infant health compared to Pinellas County as a whole. For instance, residents in South St. Pete are more than twice as likely to die from chronic illnesses like diabetes and liver disease, and nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease. These differences become even more pronounced in areas with higher concentrations of Black residents. ​

The grant program emphasizes multi-sector collaborations, requiring partnerships across at least two different sectors, such as government, non-profits, community groups, private businesses or public agencies. Research indicates that such collaborations are more effective and resilient in creating meaningful change.​

This initiative builds on the Foundation’s history of supporting health equity. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $31 million in grant funding to local organizations working to improve health and racial equity in the community. 

Interested organizations are encouraged to attend the launch event to learn more about the application process and funding criteria. Registration is available at meetatthecenter.org/healthypeople2025.