Foundation Grants Support Marginalized Communities

BY JENNIFER DAY, CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DIRECTOR

At a time when the health care system faces significant challenges and funding for vulnerable communities is declining, the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) and Alliance Charitable Foundation awarded $183,500 in grants to 16 nonprofit organizations this year. These funds aim to improve health outcomes for more than 23,500 individuals by addressing early predictors of poor health, including access to care, behavioral health services, and food insecurity.

Since its founding in 2000, the Foundation has worked to increase access to quality health care across Massachusetts. These efforts align with the MMS’s commitment to health equity, supporting nonprofits that serve historically marginalized and vulnerable communities. “Through these grants, the Foundation empowers organizations that provide essential health services to those most in need,” says Hugh M. Taylor, MD, MMS president. “We are committed to bridging care gaps and advancing equitable health access across Massachusetts,” says Lee Perrin, MD, chair of the Foundation Board of Directors.

Spotlight on Impacted Organizations

Dr. Wendy Parker

One Foundation grant recipient is the MetroWest Free Medical Program in Marlborough, MA, which offers adult medicine, women’s health, and ophthalmology clinics. Wendy Parker, MD, a retired internist, is the medical director of the adult medicine clinic where the team of mostly volunteers provides essential care to predominantly Brazilian immigrant populations. The Foundation grant helps cover rent and administrative staffing expenses, enabling volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, other support volunteers, and a pharmacist to deliver consistent, compassionate care.

“For many of our patients, this is the only medical care they can access,” says Dr. Parker. “Our patients are tremendously appreciative, and our staff is here because they want to make a difference. Everyone leaves knowing we have helped people get the care they need and deserve.”

Dr. Rachel Vuolo

Rachel Vuolo, MD, a developmental-behavioral pediatric fellow at Boston Medical Center, volunteers her Thursday evenings at St. Peter’s Parish free medical clinic in Worcester, MA.

‘‘It’s often the highlight of my week — you know you’re making a difference. You’re addressing physical concerns they might not know about and ultimately supporting healthier, more productive lives,” she explains.

St. Peter’s Clinic, along with its sister facility, St. Anne’s Free Medical Program in Shrewsbury, MA, was recently awarded a 2024 grant from the Foundation to support essential lab work and TB testing. This funding is critical, explains Dr. Vuolo, as free medical clinics are facing rising demand and prolonged waits for care at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). The need for timely care is greater than ever, with the free medical program volunteers providing numerous school and work physicals for patients who can’t afford out-of-pocket costs at urgent care centers, especially those still waiting for primary care. Without grants like those from the Foundation, patients would likely endure even longer delays at other health centers or be forced to seek emergency room care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, mental health concerns, and thyroid disorders, Dr. Vuolo adds.

Another Foundation grant recipient, Gratis Healthcare in Framingham, MA, has used its grant to expand services to a diverse and growing population in the MetroWest area. “With the Foundation grant, Gratis Healthcare has been able to outfit exam rooms, obtain gynecology beds, and support interpreter services, enabling us to provide excellent health care to a community where 65 percent of patients are Brazilian and 25 percent are from South and Central America,” says assistant medical director Kristin Howard, MD.