The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness has received a five-year, $1.75 million grant from the Merck Foundation to join the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care, a national initiative aimed at expanding access to cardiovascular care for people living with heart conditions.
The foundation, based in Wisconsin, is one of 11 organizations nationwide selected for the program. The funding will support its Social Delta Initiative, a community-clinic partnership designed to improve cardiovascular health outcomes with a focus on reducing racial and gender disparities affecting Black women in Dane County.
“Cardiovascular disease is not just a medical issue—it’s a mirror reflecting the inequities in our social structure and care systems,” Lisa M. Peyton, Founder, CEO and President of The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, said in a statement. “Through the Social Delta Initiative, we are expanding our 15 year commitment to improving heart health and creating a model that connects the dots between medical care, community trust, and the social conditions that shape health. We are proud to join the Merck Foundation and our national and local partners in this transformative work.”
The initiative includes a heart health program called Reclaim Our Hearts, which will provide free individualized and group support to women living with hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors. Participants will receive education, peer connection and wrap-around services from the foundation’s community health workers in partnership with Access Community Health Centers.
The announcement was made at the foundation’s 15th Annual Wear Red Day event on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Dane County. According to Healthy Dane data from 2021–2023, the age-adjusted heart disease death rate among Black residents is 244.2 per 100,000 — nearly four times the rate among white residents at 62.6 per 100,000. Nationally, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women overall, and Black women experience significantly higher rates of disease, mortality and premature death compared with white women.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity serves as the collaborative’s national program office, providing technical assistance, evaluation and cross-site learning.
Reclaim Our Hearts is expected to launch in spring 2026, with an initial cohort of 50 women receiving 15 months of support. Two additional cohorts of 50 women will follow during the grant period, for a total of 150 women served.
