On October 15, 2025, the University of Florida Medical Guild awarded $55,000 in fifteen grants to community and UF Health groups at its annual Special Projects Awards Symposium, supporting health care for Alachua County residents. The awards included:
Community Awards
Several community organizations received funding for projects that address health, wellness, and education needs in Alachua County:
- St. Patrick Catholic Church: $3,349.81 for a one-day free mobile dental and medical clinic serving up to 125 uninsured or underinsured low-income community members.
- Child Center for Early Learning: $2,500.00 for a program combining gardening and healthy eating curriculum to build lifelong healthy habits in up to 60 low-income children under age 5.
- The Education Foundation of Alachua County: $4,420.00 for a health science preparation program at Lincoln Middle School, equipping underserved students for future healthcare careers.
- Embers of Hope Burn Camp: $3,000.00 for a free, four-day camp supporting pediatric burn survivors.
- Hands to Love (Hand Camp): $2,000.00 for a weekend camp for children with upper limb differences and their families.
UF Health:
Projects in this category focus on supporting vulnerable patients and underserved women:
- Care One Clinic: $4,923.00 to provide home health monitoring tools for about 300 patients with chronic health conditions.
- UF Health Department of OBGYN: $7,500.00 for a mobile clinic offering prenatal, postpartum, and gynecologic care to underserved women.
- UF Health Pediatric Emergency Department: $2,000.00 for 3D printing keepsakes for grieving families, using non-invasive scanning to create personalized mementos.
- Dept of Neurosurgery: $2,000.00 for the Cancer Chomp Wellness Corner, a community event supporting those affected by brain tumors.
- UF College of Dentistry: $5,600.00 to purchase portable pediatric dental chairs for mobile dental services benefiting approximately 1,800 underserved children annually./
- Smoke Free Homes, Tobacco Free Lives: $2,656.10 for nicotine replacement therapy kits and cessation resources for hospitalized young adults and caregivers.
- Healthy Heroes Day: $2,656.09 for a community event promoting safe biking and healthy habits for children and families.
- Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute: $8,300.00 for a seated leg press machine to improve rehabilitation for patients with impaired mobility.
- Pediatric Neuromuscular and Rare Disease Clinic: $1,295.00 for equipment to improve assessments for children with neuromuscular disorders.
- Video Frenzel Goggles for Vestibular Evaluation: $2,800.00 for goggles to help diagnose and treat vestibular disorders, especially in older adults.
These awards support a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving health, wellness, and education for underserved populations in the community and at UF Health. To learn more and apply next year, click here.
