Cencora Impact Foundation Conference Focuses on How to Break Down Barriers to Healthcare Access
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (May 1, 2025) The Cencora Impact Foundation, an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of human and animal populations, recently held its sixth annual Nonprofit Partner Conference at Cencora’s headquarters for a unique two-day symposium. Uniting Cencora business experts with more than 40 nonprofit leaders, the forum nurtured meaningful collaboration to collectively tackle complex healthcare access challenges around the world.
"This innovative conference exemplifies our work to foster partnerships that drive Cencora's purpose of creating healthier futures. Together, with insights from Cencora’s healthcare and supply chain thought leaders, we are harnessing our collective expertise to create lasting change," said Barbra Anderson, VP, Global Corporate Responsibility, Cencora and Program Officer, Cencora Impact Foundation.
Throughout the Conference, engaging case study panels, discussions, and workshops explored how community activation, data and artificial intelligence, and effective storytelling can amplify impact, enhance narratives, and clarify organizational goals. Connections made over the two days by like-minded leaders provide a multiplying and long-lasting impact in healthcare.
$2+ million awarded via Cencora’s Healthier Futures Grant Program
During the Conference, the Foundation also announced the recipients of the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program, which was launched in 2023 and seeks innovative opportunities to leverage Cencora’s supply chain capabilities in areas where charitable organizations can make the most difference, enhancing the long-term, shared impact on global health.
In 2024, the Cencora Impact Foundation invited charitable organizations in Cencora’s nonprofit partner network to submit project proposals aimed at building global pharmaceutical supply chain infrastructure resiliency and addressing challenges. With funding totaling more than $2 million, the three new awardees of the Cencora Healthier Futures Grant Program announced during the Conference were:
Direct Relief: Building Back Greener – Strengthening Healthcare Resiliency and Capacity in Mexico, Peru, and Brazil
Direct Relief improves the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, helping countries recover from disasters and prepare for the future. This project focuses on modernizing medical refrigeration systems and installing renewable energy at health centers in disaster-affected areas, safeguarding essential medicines, filling gaps in the pharmaceutical supply chain, and enhancing long-term climate resilience. The goal of this initiative is to improve health outcomes and help disaster-affected regions build back greener by developing climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable cold-chain infrastructure in healthcare facilities and strengthening the capacity of the local healthcare workforce via training to operate and maintain the cold-chain equipment and solar microgrids.
Photo provided by Direct Relief
International Rescue Committee: Enhancing Integrated Facility and Community-Based Surveillance for Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya
The International Rescue Committee helps people affected by humanitarian crises globally by providing healthcare, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant. This project will reduce over-use of antibiotics by strengthening healthcare workers’ capacity to appropriately prescribe antibiotics, establishing community-based surveillance systems for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), strengthening diagnostics capabilities, and providing health education including encouraging remedies other than antibiotics to alleviate symptoms with the goal of improving prescription habits, increasing awareness of AMR, and mitigating its long-term negative effects on patients in two refugee camps as well as among the host communities.
Photo provided by the International Rescue Committee
Project HOPE: Transformative Initiatives for Medicines' Equitable Logistics Year-Round in War-Torn Regions
Project HOPE is committed to transforming lives and uplifting communities by empowering healthcare workers to teach and deliver innovative, lifesaving solutions every day and in times of disasters and health crises. Using three mobile pharmacies, this project will strengthen local health systems, streamline essential medication delivery and ensure timely, effective medical interventions for the most vulnerable and remote populations in war-torn regions. The initiative will also build the capacity of healthcare workers by delivering integrated training in safe medicine use, procurement processes, supply chain management and cold-chain logistics to ensure product integrity and effectively manage drug shortages across the supply chain.
Photo provided by Project Hope
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