St. Joseph Health Awards $239,500 in Community Health Grants

BRYAN, TX - May 8, 2026 -  St. Joseph Health, a member of CommonSpirit, recently awarded $239,500 in Community Health Improvement grants to five nonprofit organizations across the Brazos Valley. These grants are part of CommonSpirit’s broader Community Health Improvement grant program, which is contributing close to $1.5 million across the Texas ministry for the third consecutive year. The funding will support initiatives aimed at enhancing community health through improved access to care, mental health services, preventive practices and chronic disease management. The awarded grants will fund projects planned for 2026.

The grant recipients were selected based on a rigorous review process that prioritized community needs and measurable outcomes. The priorities were identified in St. Joseph Health’s most recent community health needs assessment, which is conducted every three years to help the hospitals and community partners identify and address priority health and social needs faced by residents and the region.

"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," said Monte Bostwick, Market President for St. Joseph Health.

This year’s Brazos Valley recipients include:

• Brazos Valley Food Bank Receives Multiple Grants to Address Food Insecurity:  The Brazos Valley Food Bank (BVFB) has been awarded multiple Community Health Improvement Grants to support its Screen & Intervene and BackPack Program initiatives. Serving six counties across the Brazos Valley, BVFB provides nutritious food through a network of partner agencies and targeted programs for children, seniors and rural communities. The Screen & Intervene program identifies food-insecure patients in health care settings and connects them to medically tailored food and long-term resources, recognizing food as a key driver of health. The BackPack Program partners with local schools to provide low-income children with weekly, easy-to-prepare meals for weekends and school breaks. All three critical access hospitals in the region selected this program for support. Together, these initiatives strengthen access to nutritious food and improve health outcomes across the Brazos Valley.

• United Way of the Brazos Valley – Ride2Health: A third-year recipient of this grant, Ride2Health provides a viable, economical and sustainable solution to non-emergency medical transportation services for low-income individuals and families, ensuring they can access essential health appointments.

• A Hopeful Harvest: After two years of operating an outdoor mobile food pantry, A Hopeful Harvest has expanded to a permanent brick-and-mortar location to enhance access to healthy food. This initiative also fosters volunteerism across various age groups and service organizations within the community.

• Health For All – Access RX: Health for All is dedicated to ensuring quality health care access. This grant will expand their Access RX project, which focuses on expanding access to free, high-quality primary and preventative health care. This includes free medications through an on-site pharmacy, dental clinics, flu shot clinics, a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) service coordination for low-income, medically uninsured individuals. The project also aims to establish a medical home for frequent emergency department users.

• Project Unity: Serving the community for over 30 years, Project Unity is also a Pathways Agency utilizing a Community Health Worker model. Through home visits and care coordination, the program supports individuals facing mental health challenges during second pregnancies and chronic disease management. By addressing key social determinants — mental health resources, food security, housing, transportation and more — the program aims to improve birth outcomes, reduce mental health severity and decrease Emergency Room visits.

These vital programs exemplify St. Joseph Health's dedication to improving the well-being of the Brazos Valley community. Learn more about the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grant program.

About St. Joseph Health:

St. Joseph Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic health system and second-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the United States, and has been a leader in providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare in the Brazos Valley since 1936.  Its extensive network includes five hospitals (St. Joseph Health Bryan Hospital, College Station Hospital, Madison Hospital, Grimes Hospital and Burleson Hospital), a rehabilitation facility, and numerous clinics.  Both Bryan and College Station Hospitals offer 24/7 access to state-of-the-art trauma services. A pioneer in the region, St. Joseph Health established the first air medical service, deploying two advanced helicopters for emergency scene response and patient transfers between facilities. Recognized for its excellence, St. Joseph Health holds the distinction of being the first in the area accredited as both a Chest Pain Center and a Primary Stroke Center. The organization's strong academic and clinical partnerships with the Texas A&M Health Science Center further enhance its capabilities. Together, St. Joseph Health and the Texas A&M Health Network employ over 100 primary care physicians, specialists and advanced practice clinicians.  For more information, visit St-Joseph.org.