May 20th, 2026
We are excited to announce that Grassroots Health has been selected as part of the 2026 AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator, a program by the AbbVie Foundation in partnership with MATTER. In this program, the AbbVie Foundation supports nonprofits with solutions to expand healthcare access in their communities.
We applied because we’re at a pivotal moment in our journey. Our mission has always been community-first; showing up for students, meeting them where they are, and making sure no young person is left behind when it comes to their health and to accessing quality health education. Now, the question we’re focused on is: how do we reach more students, more efficiently, without ever losing the community-centered heart of what we do? That’s exactly what we’re bringing into this accelerator.
Last week, Jane Wallis and I (Maria Ortiz) flew to Chicago for the program kickoff, and walked away with something we didn’t fully expect: genuine connection. We spent 2 days with the 5 other organizations in our cohort, learning about their work, the communities they serve, and the people behind it all. We can confidently say that this is a group of organizations that truly get it, and being in the same room with them felt like a reminder of why this work matters.
We are so proud to participate in the Accelerator program alongside these 5 incredible organizations. Each one is creating real change in their community. Get to know them, follow them, and support them:
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Over the next 10 weeks, we’ll learn from each other, from mentors and subject matter experts, and build the best version of our solution. At the end of it all, one organization will be selected as the finalist at the final in-person showcase the week of August 3, 2026.
Learn more about the Health Equity Accelerator Program HERE
Maria Ortiz, Development Manager at Grassroots Health
