NC MedAssist Receives $198,000 Grant Award from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity

Charlotte, NC [March 24, 2025] – NC MedAssist (NCMA) is excited to announce it is among several awardees across the United States to receive a grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity.

The $198,000 grant will help further NCMA’s mission to address healthcare disparities and serve marginalized populations, such as individuals facing financial challenges or racial disparities. NCMA endeavors to overcome these barriers through outreach programs, prioritizing underserved groups, enhancing communication tools, and forming partnerships to improve healthcare access and patient outcomes.

“This award will be instrumental in advancing our mission to provide critical medical care to residents in North Carolina who are faced with the difficulty of deciding between purchasing food or medication vital to their health,” NC MedAssist CEO Brenda Vass said. “We are deeply grateful to Direct Relief for their support that will enable us to meet people where they are and bring programs and services that improve lives and strengthen communities.”

Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity mobilizes financial resources for organizations focused on non-clinical interventions that affect a person’s health. Commonly known as the social determinants of health, these factors include an individual’s physical, social, political, cultural, and economic environment. 

 “We are pleased to support NC MedAssist and other grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing health equity and addressing disparities in underserved communities across the United States,” Dr. Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity and CEO of Direct Relief said. “These organizations are invaluable partners in creating lasting change because they are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, possess firsthand understanding of their needs, and are uniquely positioned to deliver impactful solutions.” 

This latest round of more than $8 million in grants is possible with support from MacKenzie Scott, the AbbVie Foundation, and Eli Lilly and Company. It the most recent infusion of funding for organizations committed to eliminating health disparities and improving healthcare quality in their communities.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes the following members: 

• Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th US Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc. 

• Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief CEO 

• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham 

• Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health 

• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe 

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NC MedAssist is on a mission to dispense hope through improved health. As North Carolina’s only statewide nonprofit pharmacy, NC MedAssist provides prescription medication at no cost to uninsured NC residents falling at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. NCMA provides over-the-counter medicine to all residents through its OTC Free Store and at over 40 Mobile Free Pharmacy events throughout the state annually. Last year, NC MedAssist served 67,104 North Carolinians and distributed $61.6 million in prescription and over-the-counter medication, helping save North Carolina approximately $98 million in uncompensated healthcare costs.
To learn more about NC MedAssist, visit www.medassist.org