Community

We build partnerships with local organizations to advance health equity in New York City

Roderick Wong, MD

Chairman

One of the hallmarks of our community partnerships is that we go beyond just financial support. Our team truly engages with communities and serves alongside our partners.

Sarah Garwood

Director, Community Engagement

Locally-led development is critical for lasting impact in the community. One thing I love about our work at RTW Foundation is that we really focus our projects on community-led initiatives and shift the power to local leaders. Our partners know the challenges their communities are facing the best, making them best positioned to respond well.

100,000+

New Yorkers provided with improved health access through community-based health services, low/no-cost health screenings & resources, appointment transportation, appointment incentives, and other health equity initiatives

177,000+

hot meals and groceries provided to combat food insecurity

2,438

people across underserved communities provided with culturally responsive mental health support, including 908 frontline healthcare workers

65,000+

people reached with vaccine education and improved health literacy

300

healthcare workers trained or hired to respond to underserved communities globally

2,867+

underserved students provided with education support and STEM programs

11,500

people vaccinated against COVID-19 through support for mobile vaccine services, nurses, community health workers, registration support, and appointment translation

30+

small businesses in Chinatown provided with support to remain open in the face of the pandemic

240

low-income families provided with safe, improved affordable housing

BioQuest

BioQuest is a STEM mentoring program designed to give middle and high school students opportunities to explore diverse careers in science, biotechnology, and medicine.

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Health Equity Grants

At RTW Foundation, we believe that building strong, lasting relationships with our Grant Partners is the cornerstone of meaningful change.

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Days of Action

RTW Foundation and our community partners are committed to advancing health equity by addressing key social determinants of health in NYC and beyond. One key way we achieve this is through our Days of Action.

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Community Partners

stem-education

BioBus

“BioBus works to create scientific community for people excluded from science. Young people across NYC are pumped about science, and BioBus works to create scientific spaces where these young scientists develop their skills and identity as scientists.”

- Latasha Wright, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, BioBus

BioEyes

“Thanks to RTW’s support, we are able to partner with educators to bring an innovative STEM exposure to students in our neighboring underserved communities, who might otherwise lack access to resources and opportunities in health and biomedicine. Our program brings the lab to the classroom and delivers foundational skills that make engaging modern medicine and research fun and accessible!”

- Florence Marlow, PhD, Associate Professor, Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine

Community

Roderick Wong, MD

Sarah Garwood

Community Impact to Date