Global biopharmaceutical company AbbVie has announced a five-year, $50 million commitment in support of equity initiatives in underserved African-American communities across the United States.

Initial awards announced by the company include a grant of $8 million to the University of Chicago Medicine's Urban Health Initiative, which will use the funds to support local teams of community health workers working to reduce health disparities on Chicago's South Side; $10 million to Direct Relief, which, with the aim of improving health care in underserved Black communities, will use the funds to launch a Fund for Health Equity; $7 million to the National Urban League, in support of a mentorship program for Black Americans and other historically underserved youth; a $10 million seed grant to the United Negro College Fund in support of its Healthcare Diversity Workforce Program, which is focused on increasing the number of Black professionals in healthcare careers; $1.5 million to Providence St. Mel School, in support of scholarships for high school students living on Chicago's Southwest Side; and $10 million to Year Up, in support of a training and internship program aligned with industry demand. In addition, the company is providing $3.5 million to a 3-to-1 matching effort aimed at encouraging employees to donate to civil rights groups.

"The private sector has a responsibility to help address racial inequity issues plaguing our nation," said AbbVie chair and CEO Richard A. Gonzalez. "We believe investing in this important work, in partnership with national and local nonprofits along with our work internally, will create immediate opportunities and advance meaningful and lasting change."

(Photo credit: University of Chicago Medicine)