South Florida – September 23, 2026 – This September, during Hunger Action Month, Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue and part of the GuideWell portfolio of companies, is awarding $3.1 million in grants to eight community-based food initiatives across Florida. These grants directly address food insecurity—a critical driver of health—while strengthening communities' access to nutritious meals and reducing disease burden.

Quick facts:

• $3.1 million awarded by the Florida Blue Foundation to eight community-based food initiatives across Florida during Hunger Action Month.
• Grantees operate in multiple counties, including Bay, Broward, Clay, Flagler, Leon, Orange, Palm Beach, and Pinellas.
• Programs address food insecurity and its connection to chronic disease management.
• Beneficiaries include farmworkers, students, homeless populations, uninsured residents, and rural communities.

Across the nation, nearly 48 million people lack consistent access to nutritious food, a crisis that goes far beyond hunger. For individuals managing diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, it can trigger avoidable complications, increased hospitalizations and mounting healthcare costs. Approximately 3.6 million Floridians face food insecurity, including more than 900,000 children¹. Florida Blue Foundation’s grant program enables nonprofits throughout the state to expand food access programs, strengthen emergency food networks, and support vulnerable populations facing food hardship.

“Hunger and chronic disease are deeply connected, and we know when we invest in food access, we invest in health,” said Susan Towler, vice president, corporate social responsibility and Florida Blue Foundation. “We're partnering with organizations across Florida to break the cycle, ensuring that access to healthy food becomes a foundation for better health outcomes."

The eight Florida nonprofit organizations receiving grants are:

• Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. – The Food and Nutrition Program serves farmworkers and low-income families in rural communities who face limited transportation and grocery access, reducing food insecurity through weekly food distribution and nutrition education.
• The Poverello Center, Inc. – The 33311 Eats Well program delivers medically-tailored food and nutrition services to individuals living with chronic and critical illnesses in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
• Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Foundation, Inc. (FAMU) – The Lola Hampton-Frank Pinder Center for Agroecology will establish the Food as Pharmacy Resource Hub and Prescription Program. Operating from their campus mini farm, the Hub will provide no- and low-cost fresh produce, grower training, educational support, and a collaborative nutrition education series.
• Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Inc. – The Food Access Network strengthens food security for uninsured Floridians through its network of 109 member clinics serving more than 220,000 patients annually

   

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