Financial grants awarded to three Minnesota social entrepreneurs working to address health equity for women

EAGAN, Minn. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, awarded financial grants to three social entrepreneurs at the second Minnesota EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator Finale Event on June 21, 2022. The accelerator empowers and invests in social entrepreneurs and businesses that foster equitable access to good health for women.

Kelly V. Robinson, RN with Messianic Care PLLC won the first place $15,000 financial grant to provide health education and engagement opportunities to underserved communities.

“One of the things I found in my research is that there were COVID-19 testing sites across the Twin Cities, but there were very few nurses of color. So, I thought ‘Bingo! I’m going to create a pathway.’ And that’s where Messianic Care came into play,” Robinson said. “[The representation of our nurses] allows us to have conversations with so many different groups. We have marked ourselves as trusted messengers and we’re grateful for the opportunity.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, claiming more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined.[1] Through cardiovascular complications caused by pregnancy, underrepresentation in CVD research,[2] and disparities in medical treatment,[3] women face unique challenges to good cardiovascular health. Further, because of historical and systemic discrimination, women of color bear a larger burden of CVD.

The second place $10,000 financial grant went to Michael Chaney with Project Sweetie Pie, a nonprofit that aims to provide nutritious food, green jobs, and educational opportunities to under-resourced communities.

“We realized early on that [gardening with the Northside community] wasn’t just about food access or food security. It was also about building pathways to higher education for our young people who have been miseducated,” Chaney said. “So, we continue to innovate. We continue to tell our story. We continue to claim our power.”

In addition, Jolly Nanda of Altheia Predictive Health won the $2,500 "fan favorite" grant following a public vote.

The panel of expert judges included Cheryl Winston of Johnson & Johnson, Nicole Ayers of General Mills, and Dr. Haitham Hussein of the University of Minnesota.

Each of the 2022 candidates received four weeks of intensive, online MBA-style training. The Accelerator’s core curriculum offers formal instruction on design thinking, customer discovery, market positioning, brand development, fundraising and other essential business functions to help entrepreneurs enhance their business models and demonstrate the viability of their projects.

The Minnesota EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ is presented by Cheerios.

“Cheerios is proud to sponsor the Minnesota Business Accelerator, not only because the brand has been supporting heart health for many years but also because we believe it’s important to support our communities,” said Kerry Delaney, business unit director of Cheerios at General Mills and board member at the American Heart Association – Minnesota. “Minnesota is often considered one of the healthiest states in the country, yet we have some of the worst health disparities. Programs like the Business Accelerator are important to help eliminate barriers and ensure health equity for all Minnesotans.”

Since 2017, the Accelerator program has trained 93 social entrepreneurs and 73 organizations and provided nearly $881,000 in financial grants across the country. Business Accelerator alumni continue to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association by participating in local volunteer boards and serving as brand ambassadors at special events and in community meetings.

To learn more, visit https://www.empoweredtoserve.org/en/capital-access-grant-funding/business-accelerator-program/minnesota

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

For Media Inquiries:

Lisa Cole, lisa.cole@heart.org 
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) 
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