Coastal Family Health Center has been selected as a 2026 recipient of the Innovation Awards in Community Health, a national program funded by The Pfizer Foundation and implemented by Direct Relief. Through this initiative, Coastal Family Health Center will receive grant funding to expand infectious disease prevention and care for uninsured, underinsured, and underserved residents across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The funding will support efforts to strengthen coordination between primary care and social service providers, improving access to prevention, education, screening, testing, treatment, and ongoing care. This work is especially critical in a region where many individuals face barriers to timely, affordable healthcare and where community-based solutions are essential to improving long-term health outcomes.
“Infectious disease prevention and access to care remain urgent needs along the Gulf Coast,” said Angel Greer, Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Family Health Center. “This investment allows us to better connect patients to the care and support they need while strengthening the overall health of our community.”
Coastal Family Health Center is one of 16 safety-net health organizations across 11 states selected for this latest cohort. Collectively, the program will distribute $4.5 million over two years to expand community-driven solutions addressing public health challenges such as HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis, tuberculosis, respiratory illness, and vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Community health centers play a vital role in helping people stay healthy by bringing trusted health services closer to them,” said Darren Back, President, The Pfizer Foundation. “Through our ongoing partnership with Direct Relief, we are proud to support health centers across the country as they expand access to lifesaving vaccines and provide culturally responsive education and support, helping more people stay protected and strengthening the health of their communities.”
Since its launch in 2020, the Innovation Awards in Community Health program has supported more than 40 safety-net health organizations nationwide, reaching over 1.3 million people and delivering more than 519,000 vaccinations.
To read the press release distributed by The Pfizer Foundation and Direct Relief, visit https://www.directrelief.org/2026/04/direct-relief-and-the-pfizer-foundation-announce-new-grantees/