The Grodman Family Foundation will fund innovative programs of research, education, clinical care, and program operations that provide solutions to the immense challenge of caring for children in distress.

Two considerations guide our mission.

First, why focus on children? Children have the same moral standing as adults. They have the right to well-being and access to the resources necessary to pursue a fulfilling life but, as minors, children lack the legal agency to act in their own self-interest. They rely on the often-erratic fidelity and competence of state, religious, community or philanthropic powers to respond on their behalf, providing a compelling clarion call for action.

Second, why distress? An effective response to children in distress often requires acute intervention as well as broad interdisciplinary involvement – from clinical, public health, economic, and operational efforts to legislative and diplomatic actions – to identify underlying individual and population-based causes and find appropriate remedies. This is most dramatically illustrated when we consider the impact disasters have on children.

As the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates, the collateral damage of disasters falls disproportionately on children. Pediatric care is significantly different from adult care, requiring not only specialized training and infrastructure but also the evaluation of psychological and social factors in addition to the child’s latent disease manifestations. The social impact of disasters on children is more debilitating than on adults. Separation, mental stress, malnutrition and poor access to appropriate medical care and countless other factors that uniquely affect children are often overlooked during perilous times but whose consequences are incalculable.

Furthermore, the needs of children are almost never a priority in research and development pipelines, and so pediatric therapeutics and vaccines emerge subsequent to those available for adults if for no other reason than the pediatric approval process is typically more deliberate and slower. These observations concerning the particular needs of children in distress apply not only to epidemics and pandemics but to all classes of catastrophes, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate. Extreme weather, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, terror or criminal events place children at a higher magnitude of risk compared to adults. Their dependency on adults, organizations, and governments for their safety, security, nutrition, and education render them acutely vulnerable during war and episodes of civil strife. Clinical and public health interventions are necessary, but on their own, are not sufficient. The Grodman Family Foundation will support integrated multidisciplinary interventions that respond to, mitigate, and prevent distress among those least able to care for themselves.

The Grodman Family Foundation will support integrated multidisciplinary interventions that respond to, mitigate, and prevent distress among those least able to care for themselves.

Eligible applicants must be a United States 501c3 organization although projects may be global in scope.

Preference will be given to academic or research based entities

Grants will be considered in the $50,000-$200,000 annual range with 1–3-year terms.