With the help of generous donors, the AHA launched the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund to invest in solutions to break down the social and economic barriers to health equity.

The fund honors the legacy of Bernard J. Tyson, the late chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente and a longtime member of the AHA Board of Directors and founding member of the AHA CEO Roundtable.

Tyson was a visionary leader who cared passionately about health and well-being for all. His quest for affordable, equitable health care and social justice improved and extended lives throughout the U.S. and around the world. Two anchor gifts launched the fund:

In the Bay Area, Lynne and Marc Benioff’s generous $1 million gift will create a new platform to facilitate systems change and advocate for health equity in San Francisco and Oakland, California. Under their leadership, the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund has begun investing in local social entrepreneurs and nonprofits with proven work to help under-resourced communities access health care, nutritious food, housing and COVID-19 testing.

The Elizabeth Elting Foundation Halo Fund launched the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund’s investment work in New York City with a $1 million gift. Liz Elting is a New York-based philanthropist and businesswoman and longtime AHA donor who is recognized for developing women business leaders. The funding is supporting local social entrepreneurs in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and creating solutions that drive economic resiliency, address food and housing insecurity, aim to close the achievement gap and improve educational performance.

“Bernard was a cherished friend, tremendous leader and trusted advisor who was a champion of change, equity and well-being,” said AHA CEO Nancy Brown. “Equity will remain at the center of the work we do, and we are so grateful for philanthropists Lynne and Marc Benioff and the Elizabeth Elting Foundation Halo Fund for their generous anchor support of the Bernard J. Tyson Impact fund. We are honored to carry on Bernard’s legacy, especially now as we navigate beyond senseless acts of racial violence and evoke positive change in our communities.”