[New York, NY] March 23, 2022 – SAGE today announced it has been awarded a new two-year Accelerating Health Equity Grant from The Pfizer Foundation to support SAGE’s Health Equity Initiative. The Initiative will serve Black LGBTQ+ older people with low incomes in New York City who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
LGBTQ+ elders of color with multiple marginalized social positions have heightened risks for social exclusion and difficulty in accessing identity-affirming health-promoting resources. Through the Initiative, SAGE will address the following barriers to health that this community faces: (1) lack of LGBTQ+-, aging- and Black-competent education about health and nutrition; (2) lack of access to healthy, fresh food; and, (3) lack of exercise resources and opportunities in an LGBTQ-affirming and pro-Black community environment.
“We are excited to be focusing on the needs of Black LGBTQ+ elders through this grant from the Pfizer Foundation,” said David Vincent, PhD., SAGE’s Chief Program Officer. “We have seen the need for focused programs for this community in a space where they feel both seen and heard and we can’t wait to get started.”
The Pfizer Foundation Accelerating Health Equity Grants program was established in 2020 to support community-based organizations working to improve the health of Black communities across the US.
“We’re proud to support the critical work of our partners across the country, who are on the frontlines of community health, creating and implementing local solutions to advance health equity,” said Caroline Roan, Senior Vice President, Global Health and Social Impact, Pfizer Inc. and President, The Pfizer Foundation.
To date, The Pfizer Foundation Accelerating Health Equity Grants program has awarded $7 million to 15+ community nonprofit partners.
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About the Pfizer Foundation
The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions. The Foundation’s mission is to promote access to quality healthcare, to nurture innovation, and to support the community involvement of Pfizer colleagues.
About SAGE
SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers. SAGE also advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ+ elders, provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBTQ+ community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging, and cultural competency training through SAGECare. With staff located across the country, SAGE also coordinates partnerships with LGBTQ+ and aging organizations across the United States. Learn more at sageusa.org.
