Advancing Health Equity & Social Justice Through Community Investment

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The Pfizer Foundation and Pfizer Inc. Help Champion African American Health and Social Justice Causes in the US

At Pfizer, we are committed to advancing health equity by working with partners who share our vision in creating access to quality care for all. Pfizer and The Pfizer Foundation are supporting mission-driven organizations across the US that are working at the community-level to address social determinants of health and social justice issues, creating long-term social impact. Through these unique partnerships and our donation and grants, our goal is to help achieve health equity across underserved communities facing significant health disparities in the US.

“The alarming data we see around African American health in the US is indicative of the broader systemic issues that we face as a community. To truly effect change, we must address the root causes. In support of this goal, Pfizer is proud to partner with organizations tackling the tough issues head-on, and helping to advance social and health equity,” said Niesha Foster, Vice President, Product Access and Multicultural Center of Excellence Co-Chair, Pfizer.

Recently, in support of promoting social justice, Pfizer Inc. made new donations to two organizations: The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the NAACP. The donation to EJI will support its continued mission to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and address racial bias in the criminal justice system. The donation to the NAACP Next Generation (NEXTGEN) young professional leadership program will help equip and empower the next generation of young African American civil rights leaders.

In addition, The Pfizer Foundation* created a new Social Determinants of Health Grant Program, which funded 10 organizations working to advance health equity and reduce disparities in health outcomes for African American communities in the US. Ethnic and racially diverse individuals are disproportionately, and often, considerably affected by healthcare disparities and systemic injustice.[i] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines social determinants of health as conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life-risks and outcomes.[ii] The work of these grantees will help to improve conditions that often lead to higher rates of chronic disease and increased risk for COVID-19.

Some examples of the projects supported this year include:

100 Black Men of America will introduce the Health Care 2.0 initiative which will train local champions to implement health education and the healthcare empowerment programs to build awareness around COVID-19 prevention strategies and address chronic metabolic diseases.
The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health will focus on cardiovascular health in Brooklyn, NY through an awareness and education program partnering with stylists and barbers to provide culturally appropriate health information and resources in places where the community gathers.
Black Women’s Health Imperative, the only national organization dedicated to improving the health and wellness of African American women, will develop a chronic disease prevention program that will provide coaching to young African American women and create a community focused on improving health through educational materials and digital tools.

The impact of COVID-19 and continued discrimination against the African American community makes it clear that change is long overdue. Pfizer believes that this financial support to these organizations will help catalyze long-term solutions and transformative progress in the areas of health equity and criminal justice in the US.

To learn more about the social determinants of health grantees, EJI and the NAACP visit:

The Equal Justice Initiative, NAACP, 100 Black Men of America, American Diabetes Association, Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Bridge Best Network, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Council on Black Health, Glenn Foundation for Better Living, National Black Child Development Institute, Sister’s Working it Out, US TOO International

*The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.

[i] Social Determinants of Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm. Published August 19, 2020. Accessed October 8, 2020.

[ii] Davis BA. Discrimination: A Social Determinant Of Health Inequities. Discrimination: A Social Determinant Of Health Inequities | Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200220.518458/full/. Published February 25, 2020. Accessed October 15, 2020.

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