The AbbVie Foundation and MATTER announce AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator grant recipient

May 21, 2025, CHICAGO, IL — The AbbVie Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to drive transformative change and advance health equity in communities worldwide, in partnership with MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, are pleased to announce the grant recipient of the inaugural AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator.

Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico has been awarded a $50,000 unrestricted grant to support the implementation and development of their innovative approach to health equity. A nonprofit organization, Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico seeks to end hunger in Puerto Rico through programs that address nutrition and improve the quality of life among Puerto Ricans living with food insecurity. The organization’s innovative ‘Food as Medicine’ program supports older adults in underserved areas by combining food access with basic health services. In partnership with clinics, nonprofits and the private sector, the program provides monthly food prescriptions, in-home health check-ins, nutrition education and exercise activities to improve health and prevent hospitalizations.

Each of the cohort members presented their innovative solutions at a closing event held in Chicago in April. Mari Jo Laborde, Executive Director of Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico, presented her team’s vision for integrating food into health care by creating a “food pharmacy” model at the event. She showed how this model can save hospital systems $7.4 million a year and lead to 20,000 less readmissions.

“Being awarded this grant means so much to our team — it’s a huge boost of confidence and motivates us to continue driving our model forward,” Laborde said. “The Accelerator experience opened our eyes to what’s possible. We’re excited to keep building partnerships and show how food can truly be part of a person’s care.”

“We launched the AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator in partnership with MATTER to empower innovative, community-driven solutions that address the root causes of health disparities,” said Claudia Carravetta, president of the AbbVie Foundation. “We wish to congratulate the Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico team and express our sincere gratitude to every member of the inaugural cohort for their hard work and deep commitment to driving transformative change in the communities they serve.”

The presentations from the other four members of the cohort highlighted a range of impactful, community-driven solutions to health disparities:

• The Health Betterment Initiative introduced a tech-enabled approach to enhance data collection by community health workers.
• Healing California emphasized their mobile clinics providing free dental and vision services to the working poor, veterans, and the unhoused.
• Healthy Hood Chicago showcased their work training local community members as health workers to drive systemic change.
• Vecinos shared their innovative Community Health Hub in rural North Carolina, expanding access to care for underserved farmworkers.

“All of the organizations are doing remarkable work, and it was an honor to be able to support them all through the course of the Accelerator,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “Banco de Alimentos stood out for their strategic clarity and strong vision for scale. Their partnership with Feeding America shows they’re not just thinking big; they’re building the right alliances to make it happen.”

In 2024, the AbbVie Foundation and MATTER launched the AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator, inviting nonprofit organizations to submit their solutions rethinking the delivery, space and place of care for underserved communities with limited access or proximity to healthcare services. Throughout the Accelerator, the five nonprofits selected to participate in the inaugural cohort received mentorship and exclusive resources designed to enhance participants’ solutions, refine their model and strategies and empower them to drive significant impact in health equity. Each participant received a $10,000 stipend, recognizing their time and dedication to the program.

About the AbbVie Foundation
The AbbVie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to driving transformative change in communities worldwide and advancing health equity so that every individual can realize their full potential.

About MATTER
At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 1,000 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.