Foundation Unveils The Spark Prize, Five Recipients Receive $200K to Fuel Their Health Equity Leadership Journeys

New prize invests in visionary Missourians with potential to drive long-term change

ST. LOUIS, MO, UNITED STATES, June 5, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has announced the five inaugural recipients of The Spark Prize, a bold new award investing in Missourians who are leading transformative work to improve health and well-being in Missouri. Each winner will receive $200,000 in unrestricted funding to support their leadership and vision. The Spark Prize awards differ from traditional grants because they are flexible, trust-based funding for individuals, not organizations.

"The Spark Prize is a bet on people,” said Dwayne Proctor, President & CEO of MFH. “It’s not just about what they’re planning on doing within the next year, it’s about looking forward to where they’ll be as health equity leaders in five years, 10 years, 20 years from now. The prize will hopefully fan the flames of their work for decades to come, and we’re looking forward to witnessing it.”

Awardees were selected for their potential to create long-term impact in Missouri. The five recipients were chosen from more than 170 nominations representing diverse backgrounds, regions, and sectors across Missouri.

2025 Spark Prize Winners:

- Diego Abente: President and CEO of Casa de Salud, expanding access to culturally responsive clinical and mental health care for immigrants and uninsured communities in Missouri.

- Emily Brown: Co-founder and CEO of Attane Health, pioneering food-based health care solutions to address chronic disease and create healthier communities.

- Kelly McGowan: Founder and Executive Director of Transform 314, using creative education and neighborhood-based solutions to reimagine how residents connect with local government.

- Ciearra “CJ” Walker: Founder and CEO of the Community Health Worker Coalition, building a statewide career network to strengthen frontline health leadership and drive community-rooted change.

- Evonnia Woods: Organizer and movement builder creating new infrastructure for racial, reproductive, and economic justice across Missouri.

"These leaders are reimagining and transforming what healthy communities look like,” said Ivory Clarke, Vice President of Strategic Relationships at MFH. "This award recognizes their leadership and vision, and fuels the momentum they’re building."

This year’s recipients are tackling challenges ranging from maternal health and housing to mental health, policy engagement, food justice, and culturally responsive care. Many work outside traditional institutions and have built new models rooted in lived experience, innovation, and deep community ties. Read more.