Falcons Youth Foundation to Increase Healthy Foods

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) is helping three Georgia non-profit organizations with their goals of increasing access to affordable, healthy food for Georgia families. AFYF, an affiliated fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, awarded $421,000 in grants to the Good Samaritan Health Center, the HEALing Community Center and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.

“The Good Samaritan Health Center and HEALing Community Center are using creative medical practices to connect more families to Georgia-grown fruits and vegetables,” John Bare, vice president of the Blank Family Foundation, said in a press release. "Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs is delivering technical and financial assistance to small businesses focusing on healthy food."

Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs will receive a two-year grant of $100,000, which the organization will use to generate $750,000 in loans for small businesses seeking to create or expand healthy food access in the 30313, 30314 and 30318 ZIP codes in Atlanta and in Hall County. The organization also leads Georgia’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative, a partnership that provides loans, grants and technical assistance to supermarket owners, corner store operators and other businesses providing access to affordable, healthy foods for their customers.

The Good Samaritan Health Center will receive a three-year, $96,000 grant to bring healthy cooking and nutrition education programs to the patients in its clinic and the surrounding community. The center provides health care and health education to uninsured, low-income individuals and families, serving about 25,000 people each year.

Since 2008, the HEALing Community Center has provided free health care to uninsured patients living in poverty. With a three-year grant of $225,000, the center will launch the Nutrition Prescription Program. The program will teach residents in the 30314, 30318 and 30311 ZIP codes about nutrition, offer cooking classes, access to healthy food and “Food is Medicine” prescriptions.