St. Joseph Health announced on May 8 that it has awarded $239,500 in Community Health Improvement grants to five nonprofit organizations in the Brazos Valley. The funding is part of CommonSpirit’s larger grant program, which is distributing nearly $1.5 million across Texas for the third year in a row.
The grants are intended to improve community health by supporting access to care, mental health services, preventive practices and chronic disease management. Projects funded by these grants will be implemented throughout 2026.
According to St. Joseph Health, recipients were chosen through a rigorous review process that focused on measurable outcomes and community needs identified in its most recent triennial community health needs assessment.
Monte Bostwick, Market President for St. Joseph Health, said: “These grants represent our ongoing partnership with organizations on the front lines. It brings us immense satisfaction to partner with organizations whose vital work directly aligns with our core mission of genuinely helping those in our community and addressing health and access needs.”
This year’s grant recipients include the Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB), which received multiple awards for its Screen & Intervene program—connecting food-insecure patients with tailored resources—and its BackPack Program that supplies low-income children with meals during weekends and school breaks. United Way of the Brazos Valley was recognized for Ride2Health, a transportation service ensuring low-income residents can attend medical appointments. A Hopeful Harvest expanded from a mobile pantry to a permanent location to increase healthy food access while fostering volunteerism.
Other grantees are Health For All—expanding Access RX to provide free primary care services including medications and dental clinics—and Project Unity, which supports individuals facing mental health challenges or chronic diseases through home visits and social determinant coordination during second pregnancies.
St. Joseph Health has served the region since 1936 as part of CommonSpirit Health—the largest Catholic health system and second-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the U.S.—and operates five hospitals along with clinics throughout the area.according to the official website.
