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The Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC) has a long history of advancing public health for all New Yorkers. Since our founding in 2002, we’ve raised more than $500 million in public and private funding for over 440 projects, making New York City healthier and safer for all. We work closely with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to pilot, implement, and expand innovative public health programs, many of which are taken to scale city-wide for lasting impact on individual and community health.
See our blog post “From the FPHNYC Archives” to explore milestones of FPHNYC’s growth.

2021 – Present

  • The NYC Health Department appoints its first ever Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Michelle Morse, in February 2021. FPHNYC secures philanthropic support for the CMO’s office to develop a strategic plan focusing on advancing health equity and promoting antiracism in health care.
  • September 2021, NYC launches the Public Health Corps (PHC) to bolster the public health workforce across the City. FPHNYC helps develop and implement PHC efforts focusing on neighborhoods most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • March 2022, Dr. Ashwin Vasan becomes the 44th NYC Commissioner of Health and FPHNYC welcomes him as its board chair.
  • Mayor Eric Adams recognizes the 20th anniversary of FPHNYC’s incorporation as a nonprofit by issuing a proclamation declaring May 18, 2022 as “Fund for Public Health Day.”
  • FPHNYC is an official charity partner of the 2022 TCS NYC Marathon and has a team of runners in the first NYC Marathon back at full capacity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • March 2023, Mayor Adams and DOHMH Commissioner Vasan announce “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City.” FPHNYC holds briefing for the philanthropic community about how to support the plan.
  • March 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies hosts a reception in recognition of FPHNYC’s 20 year anniversary and honoring FPHNYC founding board member Pamela Brier.
  • November 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health Commissioner and FPHNYC Board Chair, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, launch “HealthyNYC,” an ambitious plan to improve and extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers.
  • January 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams launches “Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity,” which includes more than more than $10 million in funding raised by FPHNYC for health initiatives.

From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, FPHNYC has assisted the Health Department and the City of New York in its unprecedented response to this public health crisis.

  • Secured funding for an expansion and enhancement of the SaTScan software to track outbreaks of diseases, plus other important software upgrades and pro-bono IT consulting and equipment donations.    
  • Helped speed up construction of a Quickie Lab in Fort Greene and the hiring of a lab director to oversee rapid COVID-19 testing.
  • Assisted the Health Department with the rapid transition to virtual delivery of services and programs like Baby Cafés®.
  • Activation of Be a Buddy Program volunteers to check in with thousands of isolated adults.
  • Support for delivery of methadone to New Yorkers with opioid addiction during the closure of clinics during pandemic lockdown.
  • Raised over $1,500,000 to support the work of FPHNYC’s Epidemics Fund, a special initiative created to accelerate programs critical to NYC’s COVID-19 response.
  • As NYC prepared to make COVID-19 vaccinations widely available, in January 2021, FPHNYC joined the Health Department’s Vaccine Equity Initiative to enhance capacity for equitable distribution, access, and uptake of vaccines by all New Yorkers.

2019 – 2020

  • FPHNYC secures a grant for the NYC Health Department to develop a school-based HPV immunization strategy, and also receives a $1.8 million grant from Merck for Mothers to work with hospitals on maternal morbidity.
  • The NYC Health Department announces the National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative as well as the first citywide initiative to prevent and control blood pressure: Take the Pressure Off.
  • A state-of-the-art Quickie Lab for fast and easy STI testing is opened and FPHNYC secures a grant to create a second Quickie Lab.
  • The NYC Health Department works to improve care for patients involved in the justice system, while also expanding opioid overdose prevention strategies.
  • With support from several grants secured and managed by FPHNYC, the NYC Health Department’s Pharmacy to Farm issues “prescriptions” for fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income New Yorkers with high blood pressure.
  • Dr. Dave A. Chokshi is appointed NYC Commissioner of Health in August 2020 and also becomes FPHNYC’s board chair
  • FPHNYC works with the NYC Health Department to obtain a grant to provide training to teachers and mental health clinicians to support families impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
  • FPHNYC secures grants to expand NYC Teens Connection, a sexual health education program, as well as Health Bucks, which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to SNAP recipients.
  • The NYC Health Department launches Take Care New York 2020, a blueprint to improve the health of all New Yorkers.
  • The NYC Health Department releases a report on the racial and ethnic disparities of Severe Maternal Morbidity, supported by a grant managed by FPHNYC.
  • Neighborhood Health Action Centers are opened in three boroughs.
  • New initiatives include the Active Open Space program; Shop Healthy NYC; the Mural Arts Project; and the expansion of HIV and STI services at Sexual Health Clinics.
  • In 2018, Dr. Oxiris Barbot becomes Commissioner of Health and becomes FPHNYC’s board chair.
  • FPHNYC collaborates with the NYC Health Department to launch Check Hep C and the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
  • Life expectancy hits an all time high of 80.6 years, and teen pregnancy rates hit a new low, falling 30%.
  • Air quality reaches its cleanest levels in 50 years.
  • NYC launches projects to improve diagnosis and treatment of HIV, increase flu vaccination rates, and update restaurant hygiene guidelines.
  • In 2014, Mayor De Blasio takes office and Dr. Mary Bassett is named Commissioner of Health, resuming the position of FPHNYC’s board chair.
  • NYC implements physical activity standards across all child care centers.
  • The city establishes the National Salt Reduction Initiative, and expands food and nutrition standards across NYC schools, senior centers, and public hospitals.
  • The NYC Health Department responds to H1N1 by creating borough-based vaccination services.
  • The Smoke Free Air Act expands to include parks, beaches, and areas outside hospitals, while the Community Air Survey assesses neighborhood air quality to address pollutants.
  • Sara Gardner joins FPHNYC as Executive Director in 2008.
  • Dr. Thomas Farley becomes Commissioner of Health in 2009 and serves as FPHNYC’s board chair.
  • FPHNYC is created in 2002 during the first year of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration.
  • Dr. Thomas Frieden is named as Commissioner of Health and serves as FPHNYC’s board chair.
  • As part of its history championing public health, New York City becomes the first city in the United States to restrict trans fats in commercial food and beverages.
  • The city posts calories in major restaurant chains and expands the Smoke Free Air Act to include bars and restaurants.