NCPA Foundation receives grants from Cardinal, Truist

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NCPA Foundation has received two grants to help it pursue its mission to improve community-based health care by advancing the sustainability, growth and public understanding of independent community pharmacists. The Cardinal Health Foundation has renewed its support with a $50,000 grant to fund the NCPA Foundation’s disaster relief program, which provides emergency assistance to independent pharmacies affected by hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. The renewed funding builds on a partnership that has already helped independent pharmacies recover from significant disruptions, including the NCPA Foundation’s response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, where grant support funded generators for nine pharmacies, Mental Health First Aid certifications for pharmacy staff, community health worker certifications and wellbeing micro-grants for pharmacy teams. “Independent pharmacies are cornerstones of community health, especially when disaster strikes, and their ability to remain operational is crucial to patient well-being,” said Jessie Cannon, president of the Cardinal Health Foundation. “We are proud to renew our support for the NCPA Foundation's vital disaster relief program, which directly empowers these pharmacies to recover quickly and continue serving as essential healthcare access points during critical times.” Additionally, the NCPA Foundation has received a $100,000 grant from Truist Foundation to support its Rural Pharmacy Ownership Accelerator, a program that prepares pharmacists to open, purchase and sustain independent pharmacies in rural communities. This will support the program’s 2026 inaugural cohort through graduation and help to grow recruitment, nurture curriculum and provide technical assistance for the 2027 cohort.