Jewish Healthcare Foundation Approves $1.9 Million in Grants to Strengthen Regional Health and Human Services

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) approved more than $1.9 million in new and renewed grants to address urgent community needs, bolster safety-net health providers, respond to unprecedented threats to state and federal human services funding, and invest in the future healthcare workforce. The grants support organizations across the region that serve vulnerable populations—including immigrants and refugees, frail older adults, adolescents, and low-income families—and strengthen the infrastructure of Jewish community agencies.

JHF’s awards include the establishment of a $300,000 Emergency Fund for Health and Human Services, ongoing support for the Squirrel Hill Health Center, renewal of the Foundation’s Jewish Community Block Grant, investment in AI-literacy curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh, and continued funding for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Establishing an Emergency Fund for Health and Human Services

In response to severe federal and state budget disruptions, including delays in Pennsylvania’s budget passage, the October-November federal government shutdown, and looming cuts to Medicaid, JHF approved a one-year, $300,000 Emergency Fund to support existing partner agencies facing existential strain. Organizations that provide home-delivered meals, rape crisis services, refugee and immigrant support, veterans’ programs, and women’s health services are among those already experiencing acute funding gaps. The Emergency Fund will aid initiatives that save lives, support frontline workers, and deliver immediate, measurable community impact, without replacing government obligations. Funds will be deployed swiftly through a streamlined process.

Bolstering the Squirrel Hill Health Center

JHF approved a $500,000 grant to support the Squirrel Hill Health Center (SHHC), a long-time partner and critical access point for primary, behavioral, and dental care for more than 10,000 patients speaking 44 languages. SHHC faces unprecedented challenges due to federal changes that eliminated refugee resettlement funding, loss of several public health grants, workforce pressures, a surge in uninsured patients, and increasing no-show rates among immigrant families. The grant positions SHHC to maintain uninterrupted care, particularly for refugees, immigrants, and homebound older adults, while advancing planning for long-term sustainability.

Creating an AI-Ready Healthcare Workforce

To prepare students and clinicians for rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), JHF awarded $50,000 to expand and pilot Pitt-AI-cademy, a pioneering, non-technical AI-literacy curriculum designed by the University of Pittsburgh’s Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence. The program delivers more than 20 interactive modules emphasizing patient safety, ethical integration, bias awareness, and clinical judgment. JHF funding will help Pitt scale the course across the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, equipping the next generation of health professionals to use AI responsibly and effectively.

Renewing the $1M Block Grant for the Jewish Community

Beginning in 1991, JHF’s annual block grant supports the health and human service needs of the local Jewish community. JHF fully assumed administration of the grant beginning in 2025, aligning it more directly with Foundation priorities in healthy aging, teen mental health, and coordinated service delivery. For 2026, JHF again has approved $1 million in funding and allocations to support the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish Family and Community Services, Squirrel Hill Health Center, Jewish Association on Aging, The New Riverview, and The Beacon / Friendship Circle. This renewed investment strengthens agency infrastructure, reduces service fragmentation, and promotes health equity throughout the Jewish community.

Supporting the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

JHF approved funding to maintain its support of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania at $68,000. The United Way’s partner agencies address the critical community needs of families, health, housing, neighborhoods, and older adults, helping them to meet basic needs, move toward financial stability, and empower young learners for success in school and life.

“These grants reflect both the challenges our community is facing and the innovation and compassion of the organizations working tirelessly on behalf of vulnerable residents,” said Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. “Our goal is to respond swiftly where need is greatest, strengthen the safety-net systems that save lives, and prepare our region for the future of health care.”

JHF Board Chair Michael Ginsberg added, “This combination of emergency support, sustained investment, and future-focused initiatives represents JHF at its best—strategic, collaborative, and committed to the well-being of our entire region.”

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Available for Interviews: Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, President and CEO, Jewish Healthcare Foundation