The Brave of Heart Fund: Support for Friends and Family Members of Healthcare Heroes

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers, support staff, volunteers and medical and emergency technicians have put their lives at risk to protect and care for their communities. According to Kaiser Health News, more than 3,600 American frontline healthcare workers died in the first 12 months of the COVID-19 response, leaving too many families with grief, emotional stress and financial struggles.

The Brave of Heart Fund, created by the Foundations of New York Life and Cigna with charitable partner E4E Relief, aims to bring support and comfort to these families. Through this initiative, eligible family members of frontline healthcare workers, volunteers and support staff who lost their lives because of COVID-19 can apply to receive financial grants and emotional support services.

The Brave of Heart Fund provides support to cover funeral expenses and missing income up to $75,000 per family. Grants are available for families of healthcare workers who lived in the United States at the time of death and worked or volunteered in a hospital, nursing home, triage center, medical center, clinic or other licensed medical facility. Many family members of emergency medical technicians, ambulance technicians and paramedics are also eligible.

Initiative grants are available in two phases. Phase 1 grants are available in the amount of $15,000 to spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, children and siblings who were responsible for a healthcare worker’s funeral expenses. Phase 2 grants are available in the amount of $60,000 to family members who were financially dependent on a healthcare worker’s income for basic living expenses like housing, utilities, transportation or other necessities. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2021.

At the CDC Foundation, we remain committed to supporting our nation’s frontline healthcare workers and shining a light on all of the dedicated individuals who lost their lives during the COVID-19 response. We hope readers will share information about the Brave of Heart Fund with those who could benefit from its support.

For more information on available support and resources, visit the Brave of Heart Fund.