Supporting community-driven solutions for respiratory health
Community Health Centers (CHCs) are a vital part of the U.S. healthcare system, providing care to millions of people who may otherwise face barriers to accessing it. Because they are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, CHCs bring an understanding of the people and circumstances that shape health.
Through Breathe Easier, Sanofi and Direct Relief are supporting 10 CHCs across Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with a $2 million investment over two years. The initiative supports community-driven approaches to addressing environmental factors that can affect respiratory health.
Why Community Health Centers Matter
Community Health Centers are the bedrock of care for more than 32.5 million people each year, reaching approximately one in 10 people across the country. They provide essential primary and preventive care to communities that can face significant barriers to healthcare due to geography, insurance status, financial circumstances and other social drivers of health.
Their role also extends beyond providing care. The relationships and trust CHCs build within their communities provide firsthand insight into the conditions affecting their patients — an important foundation for developing solutions shaped by the people they serve.
Powered by Partnership
Sanofi and Direct Relief are combining complementary strengths to help Community Health Centers turn community insight into action.
Sanofi: Investment + respiratory health expertise
Sanofi brings investment and scientific expertise in respiratory health to help strengthen the capacity of CHCs to address environmental factors affecting respiratory health.
Direct Relief: Network + operational reach
Through its Health Equity Fund and longstanding relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S., Direct Relief brings the network, infrastructure and operational reach to support CHCs as they put funding into action.
Community Health Centers: Community knowledge + trusted relationships
CHCs bring established relationships and firsthand understanding of the health challenges facing the people they serve.
Together, these strengths help participating CHCs build and implement approaches that reflect the needs of their communities.
Breathe Easier at a Glance
$2M
Invested to support locally driven respiratory health solutions
10
Community Health Centers participating in Breathe Easier
2 Years
Supporting implementation and progress over time
3 states
Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
The Work is Underway
Across participating Community Health Centers, Breathe Easier is moving from planning to implementation. CHCs are building clinical infrastructure, training staff and beginning direct patient and community engagement across a range of respiratory health interventions.
Early progress across participating CHCs
18 community events
Zufall Health has already exceeded its Year 1 target of 15 community events serving special populations.
37 clinical staff trained
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center has exceeded its two-year target of training 30 clinical staff in asthma education.
458 pediatric patients reached
Holyoke Health Center reached 458 pediatric patients in its first six months, with pediatric asthma visits and severity assessments underway.
These early milestones show the different ways participating CHCs are putting Breathe Easier into action — from strengthening the infrastructure and capacity to deliver respiratory care to engaging patients and communities directly.
Explore More
Launching a Commitment to Better Respiratory Care
In 2025, Sanofi and Direct Relief launched a $2 million initiative to support 10 community health centers across Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, helping expand access to respiratory care in under-supported communities.