CDC Foundation

10/21/2026

In Toccoa, Georgia, families gathered to remember loved ones lost to overdose. Just a few weeks later, the community came together again, this time for a celebration of recovery, complete with music, activities and a kickball tournament.

Both events were hosted by HOPE for a Drug Free Stephens, a local coalition working to prevent overdose, connect people with recovery resources and support families affected by substance use.

Through the Georgia Overdose Prevention Partnership, the CDC Foundation provides funding and technical assistance to HOPE for a Drug Free Stephens and other rural coalitions to strengthen local partnerships and expand overdose prevention and recovery efforts.

Read how this Georgia community is coming together to support recovery, honor loved ones and help neighbors find hope.

In August, families in Stephens County, GA gathered in the town of Toccoa to light candles and release balloons in memory of loved ones lost to overdose.

10/20/2026

Reliable blood lead testing helps countries detect lead exposure and take action to prevent lead poisoning. But many countries face gaps in the laboratory systems, equipment and expertise needed to produce accurate results.

Through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative, the CDC Foundation and partners are working with laboratories in nine countries across Africa, Asia and South America to strengthen blood lead testing capacity. .

Close to a billion children around the world are affected by lead p...

10/19/2026

When epidemiologist Alexander Langmuir created the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) in 1951, he couldn’t have known the impact it would have. Today, this group of public health professionals continues to respond to disease threats around the world, and EIS officers investigate health threats posed by chronic diseases, injuries and environmental hazards. Seventy-five years since Dr. Langmuir’s vision became a reality, the EIS program boasts more than 4,300 alumni.

Learn more about the EIS program and how the Epidemic Intelligence Service Alumni Association is investing in a globally distributed system of mission-aligned public health leaders to keep us all safe from the next public health threats. This story is part of an ongoing series celebrating 250 years of public health in the United States. https://cdcf.link/4jaAcR0

10/16/2026

Public health often makes headlines during emergencies. But what does public health look like before emergencies happen?

How do communities prepare for disease outbreaks? Support healthy pregnancies? Prevent chronic disease? Reduce injuries?

Explore the everyday work that helps keep communities healthier and safer. https://cdcf.link/3SKF5TI

10/15/2026

Sometimes, taking care of your mental health means having a safe space. For many teens at Jenkins County High School in Millen, GA, that space is the Flight Zone Teen Center. Opened in 2025 as part of the CDC Foundation’s Teens Linked to Care program, the center provides a welcoming environment where students can gather, build relationships and access tutoring from adults. Located directly next door to Evergreen Counseling Services, the teen center also provides access to mental health care.

Lauren Amason, a licensed professional counselor at Evergreen, details the role the teen center plays in providing mental health to students in Jenkins County.

Read here to learn more about the Teens Linked to Care project and how it is impacting Jenkins County, GA. https://cdcf.link/44lCHY5

Supported by the CDC Foundation and Amerigroup Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Foundation.

10/10/2026

“NEST brings together federal leadership, philanthropic investment and trusted local health organizations in a coordinated national model.” – Dr. Judy Monroe

Our President and CEO Dr. Judy Monroe along with Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Thomas Engels and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey attended the launch of the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Program in Morgantown, West Virginia. The NEST Initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in coordination with the HRSA, provides new mothers and families with essential newborn and postpartum supplies, educational information and connections to resources during the critical first weeks after birth. Learn more: https://cdcf.link/4AXk2kt

10/09/2026

Every family deserves support as they welcome a new baby.

The CDC Foundation is supporting the expansion of the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the launch in West Virginia.

NEST provides families with essential newborn and postpartum supplies, including diapers, wipes, maternal recovery items and educational resources to help them navigate the first weeks with a newborn.

Thanks to partnerships with HHS, Elaine and John Chambers and and local health organizations, we're helping bring these important resources to families and communities starting in West Virginia.

Learn more about the initiative and how we're helping support mothers, babies and families:

CDC Foundation helps provide support to families welcoming a new baby.

10/09/2026

When we say public health is everywhere, we really do mean everywhere—even space! It’s , so let’s look at a few ways space science and exploration connect to public health here on Earth.

-Space-related research has helped advance technologies used in medical imaging, including MRI machines.
-Satellites make GPS possible, helping communities map hazards, prepare for disasters and coordinate emergency response.
-Scientific and medical research in space is helping us better understand how the human body responds to extreme environments.

Public health reaches farther than you might think. Learn more about what public health is and the many ways it shapes our lives. https://cdcf.link/3SKF5TI

10/08/2026

Schools should be about more than simply education. They should also provide youth with the coping skills they need to deal with today’s stressors, and develop into strong, civic-minded leaders. That is the philosophy Lisa Herald espouses—and brings to her role as the Teens Linked to Care site ambassador for Scott County, Indiana.

Through the CDC Foundation's Teens Linked to Care program, more than 12,000 participants in Georgia, Indiana and Kentucky are developing those skills and more through the three tenets of the Teens Linked to Care program: health education, safe and supportive environments and improved access to care.

Here, Lisa Herald discusses the stress facing youth today and how the Teens Linked to Care program can help students thrive.

Read more to learn about Teens Linked to Care and how it is impacting Jenkins County, GA. https://cdcf.link/44lCHY5

Supported by the CDC Foundation and Amerigroup Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Foundation.

10/08/2026

Public health challenges don't wait, and neither should the impact of your generosity.

This Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Day, join us in strengthening public health and helping communities thrive. Your support of the CDC Foundation helps advance critical health initiatives, respond to emerging threats and improve lives around the world.

Happy Donor-Advised Fund Day!

Learn more about making a DAF gift: https://cdcf.link/4rUwCge

On October 8, 2026, we celebrate Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Day, a moment to recognize how strategic philanthropy can strengthen communities and save lives.