On Monday, February 27, 2023, Tufts Medical Center hosted a community benefits reception to bring community partners together to meet or re-connect with one another, learn about each other’s efforts, share best practices, and collaborate on initiatives that will improve the health of the community for years to come.

Tufts MC awarded grants to 20 community partners, including 5 based in Chinatown, who will support and uplift Boston residents with programs focused on behavioral health, access to care and services, and/or financial stability and mobility.

According to Sherry Dong, Executive Director, Community Benefits and Community Health Initiatives at Tufts Medical Center, “We are proud to support these organizations that are working tirelessly to make a positive impact in Chinatown, Dorchester, South End, South Boston, and beyond. Our community benefits program allows us to invest in the health of our neighbors and address the social determinants of health that are so critical to overall well-being.”

The Asian American Civic Association received support for its Multi-Service Center to ensure access to critical housing, employment, and other services and information. Mary Chin, the organization’s CEO, expressed her gratitude, saying “We are thrilled to receive this support from Tufts Medical Center. This funding will enable us to continue providing critical services to Asian immigrants and refugees in Chinatown.”

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center will be using its funding to promote infant and maternal physical and mental health and strengthen family bonds. Ben Hires, BCNC’s Executive Director, explained that “By supporting this program for new families, this funding provides critical culturally and linguistically accessible behavioral and mental health support services to the Chinse speaking immigrant population throughout Greater Boston.”

From Chinatown, Boston Asian: Youth Essential Service, Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, and Josiah Quincy Elementary School, were also funded. At the reception, the organizations expressed excitement about the potential for collaboration and the meaningful impact they can achieve working together, and emphasized that this funding will allow them to amplify their efforts and create a lasting impact on the community’s health and well-being.

Tufts Medical Center’s community benefits program is part of its commitment to improving the health of the communities it serves. As Sherry Dong noted, “We believe that improving the health of our communities requires more than just providing medical care. It requires addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health outcomes.”

This article is provided by Tufts Medical Center Community Benefits and Community Health Initiatives.