HealthStart Foundation was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Hispanic Impact Fund to help improve Latino Community’s Health.

HealthStart was named a Hispanic Impact Fund finalist and grantee for 2022 in Health & Wellness. We received $10,000 to help expand our community partnerships, allowing us to reach more young children in Central Texas. 

The Hispanic Impact Fund is a program of the Austin Community Foundation. In Health & Wellness, the Fund invests in organizations that provide preventative, culturally competent health education and access to quality mental and physical health services. Austin Community Foundation established the Hispanic Impact Fund in 2017 to support Latino families' economic security and advancement in Central Texas. By leveraging the assets, resilience, and strength of our Latino community, they’re investing in the potential of future leaders. 

Latinos make up 43% of the total youth population in Central Texas. This demographic faces a disproportionate number of challenges to good health outcomes. HealthStart recognizes the systemic inequities that exist in the Latino community; thus, our programming focuses on removing barriers to success for these children. An example is our Children’s Health Education Workshop Series (CHEWS) which brings positive change with a structured, engaging, and approachable series of workshops for kids and their families. Through culturally appropriate and accessible resources, children are empowered to assume responsibility for their health, and families are also positively impacted, ultimately enabling healthier communities overall.  

Support from the Hispanic Impact Fund will assist HealthStart in expanding services to more communities in Central Texas that are historically underserved and predominantly Latino populations.

“We are honored to receive this grant from the Hispanic Impact Fund. It demonstrates a vote of confidence in our organization with this financial investment. We also appreciate the additional exposure HealthStart receives from such recognition,” said Javier Valdez, Executive Director HealthStart Foundation. 

Thank you, Austin Community Foundation and Hispanic Impact Fund. As a grant partner, we’ll be able to help more Latino children create a healthier future.