The Health Trust Grants Over $800,000 to Support Youth, Expand Food Access, and Advance Health Equity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2025

The Health Trust Grants Over $800,000 to Support Youth, Expand Food Access, and Advance Health Equity

San Jose, CA — The Health Trust Board of Trustees has approved a new round of Health Partnership Fund grants totaling $395,000 to support three community-based organizations to advance health equity, youth wellness, and food security across Santa Clara and San Benito counties.

“These grants reflect the importance of partnering with trusted, local organizations who are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of their communities,” said Amy Chan, Interim CEO of The Health Trust. “Each of these grantees is doing powerful, equity-centered work—from expanding leadership opportunities for young women to ensuring youth have access to healthy food, housing, and supportive care.”

The funded projects align with The Health Trust’s focus areas of Food & Nutrition, Supportive Housing, and the Health Equity Fund.

In addition to the Health Partnership awards, The Health Trust also invested an additional $407,000 to support three Rapid Response proposals, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to responding swiftly to urgent and emerging community needs. These investments are designed to address time-sensitive challenges that disproportionately impact communities facing health disparities in Santa Clara and Northern San Benito counties.

Health Partnership Fund Grants

Food & Nutrition & Supportive Housing 

Youth Alliance: Youth Alliance will address food insecurity and expand wraparound support for marginalized youth and families in South Santa Clara and Northern San Benito counties. With support from The Health Trust, the organization will expand its Youth Impact Center food pantry, partner with local food banks to serve more than 500 families each month, and integrate nutrition education and trauma-informed care into its programs.

Supportive Housing

Unity Care Group: Unity Care will launch a new initiative to embed substance use prevention and recovery support into its case management programs for youth ages 18 to 24 aging out of foster care. The program includes staff training, stigma-reduction workshops, and the development of a trauma-informed, healing-centered curriculum to improve housing stability and long-term wellness outcomes.

Health Equity Fund

Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI): BAWSI will expand its Leadership Accelerator for Girls through Sport at W.C. Overfelt High School in East San Jose. This culturally relevant, school-based initiative empowers high school girls through sports, leadership development, and social-emotional learning, with a goal of increasing confidence, connection, and long-term health outcomes.

For nearly 30 years, The Health Trust has worked to build health equity in Silicon Valley through policy advocacy, strategic grantmaking, and partnerships with local organizations. Together, with its grantees and community allies, The Health Trust envisions a region where everyone—regardless of income, immigration status, race, or zip code—has access to the resources needed to live a healthy life.

For more information, visit www.healthtrust.org or contact:

Maria Garcia
Vice President, Strategy & Programs
mariag@healthtrust.org
408.513.8729

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