Special Projects is our grant-funding philanthropy which began in the mid 1990s. In April/May of each year, a request for proposals is advertised. The Special Projects Committee accepts applications from UF Health departments and local non-profit community health organizations that would like to receive additional funding to support their programs.
100% of the money that is awarded is used only for the projects. The Guild does not fund administrative and overhead fees. We only fund not-for-profit (non-profit) organizations, so if funded, please note that you will be asked to provide your 501C3 number.
In October of previous years, the grant recipients participated in a poster session where they presented their projects to the Guild members. In 2020 and 2021, the presentations switched to a Zoom teleconference format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2022, grant recipients were able to make their presentations in-person and via Zoom teleconference. Forty grants requesting a total of over $168,000 were reviewed by the Special Projects Committee. Eighteen grants were awarded totaling $55,000.
Every year, typically in the spring, the Special Projects Committee releases the Grant Application online for grant proposals from UF Health departments and community organizations in the Gainesville area.
2023 Special Projects Grant Application – NOW CLOSED
The Special Projects Committee will accept applications beginning May 1 until midnight on May 31, 2023 from UF Health departments and local non-profit community health organizations.
Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2022 ($55,000)
UF Health Grants
- Safety & Comfort for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Bone Marrow Transplant; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- LifeGlider; Department of Pediatrics/Child Health Research Institute
- Supporting Patients and Caregivers in the UF Health Pediatric Surgery G-tube Clinic; Pediatric Surgery Department/Pediatric Specialties
- Butterfly Cart; Pediatric Emergency Department
- Scooterboards for Pediatric Rehab; UF Health Rehab Center for Kids
- Alternative Load for Functional and Isolation Training; UF Health Adult Outpatient Rehab – Magnolia Park
- Updated Equipment for Novel Strength Training Methods; UF Health Rehab OSMI
- Reach Out and Read Program; UF Health General Pediatrics Primary Care
- MotionMgix Interactive Floor Games for Pediatric Burn Clinic Waiting Room; UF Health Pediatric Burn Clinic
- From First Contact: Minimizing Children’s Emotional Trauma Through EMS; UF Health Pediatric Trauma Services/Child Life
- Blaze Pods for Outpatient Physical Therapy; UF Health Rehab – Haile Plantation
Community Grants
- Bridging the Digital Divide for the Developmentally Disabled; The Arc of Alachua County
- Updating Dental Equipment for Low-Income Patients; Gainesville Community Ministry
- AAMRC Women’s Clinic; GRACE
- The Comfort of Food: Providing Nutrition with Familiar Foods; Forage Inc., DBA Working Food
- Gentle Carousel’s Family and Patient Visitations; Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses
- Foster Training Family Program; Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc.
UF Grant
- Virtual Reality Experiences for UF Inpatients; Florida Museum of Natural History
Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2021 ($55,000)
UF Health Grants
- Rifton Tram for Therapy Intervention; UF Heart Vascular Neuromedicine Rehabilitation
- Pediatric Clinic Positioning and Gross Motor Equipment; UF Health Rehabilitation for Kids
- Becoming the Best YOU Chronic Disease Self Management for Underserved Patients; UF Health Mobile Outreach Clinic
- Utilization of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference to Diagnose Pediatric Malnutrition; UF Health Food and Nutrition
- Phasing Out Phlebotomy Fear; UF Health Department of Pediatrics
- Care One Clinic Financial Assistance Co-Pay Program; UF Health Care One Clinic
- Care One Clinic Daily Diabetes Maintenance Project; UF Health Care One Clinic
- Rapael Smart Pegboard; UF Health Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy
- Therapeutic Horticulture Program for Patients; UF Health Psychiatric Hospital
- Homeless Outreach and Street Medicine Program; UF College of Medicine
Community Grants
- Girls on the Run of Alachua County; Girls on the Run
- Helping Seniors and their Caregivers Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy; Elder Options
- Seed-to-Plate Empowerment; Forage Inc. DBA Working Food
- Enhancing Dental Equipment Services for Low-Income Patients; Gainesville Community Ministry
- Art for Everyone, No Experience Needed; Gainesville Opportunity Center
Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2020 ($55,000)
UF Health Grants
- Developmentally Appropriate Interventions for Hospitalized Neonates; UF Health Rehabilitation Pediatric Services
- Meeting Parents Where They Are; UF Health Mobile Outreach Clinic
- Easing Financial Burden and Improving Quality of Life for Children with Feeding Tubes; UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital
- Treatment Tools to Improve Health and Well-Being for People with Neurological Diseases; UF Health Rehabilitation Center Fixel Institute
- Improving Early Mobility/Safety in Pediatric ICU Surgery Patients; UF Health Rehabilitation Physical Therapy
- Survival Tools for Lung Transplant Patients; UF Health 67 Unit Practice Council
- I Poo, So Can You: Bowel Management; UF Health Pediatric Surgery
Community Grants
- Care for Kids; Southwest Advocacy Group
- Grace Pharmacy; Grace Healthcare
- Equipment for ACORN Clinic’s Dental Home; ACORN Clinic Dental Home
- Grace Clinic; Grace Clinic Healthcare
Special Projects Grants Awarded in 2019
UF Health Grants
- Birth Control Implants for Low-Income Women without Health Insurance; UF Mobile Outreach Clinic
- Healthy Smiles Fluoride Varnish Program; UF Dept. of Community Dentistry
- Reach Out & Read; UFH General Peds Primary Clinics
- Dolls, Books, Pill Crushers, and Thermometers; UFH Ped Hem/Onc
- Educational Anatomical Models & Posters for Outpatient Physical Therapy; UFH Rehab Haile Plantation
- Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcer; UFH Internal Medicine
- Providing AEDs for East Gainesville; UFH Chest Pain – Pulse-Point Task Force
- Benefit of Biofeedback in Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation; UFH Rehab Medical Plaza
- LymphTouch; Rehab Cancer
Community Grants
- Enhancing Delivery of Chronic Health Ed Classes to Alachua County Seniors; Elder Options
- Youth Garden Education; Working Food
- Healthy, Joyful, Confident Girls on the Run!; Girls on the Run of Alachua County
- Expanding Access to Yoga for Those with Limited Mobility; YogaLoka
- SF Teaching Zoo Sensory Inclusive Certification Grant; Santa Fe College