NCPA Foundation Awarded Grants To Support Disaster Relief, Rural Pharmacy Ownership Efforts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 5, 2026) - KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 5, 2026) - The NCPA Foundation today announced that it has received two grants to help it pursue its mission to improve community-based health care by advancing the sustainability, growth, and public understanding of independent community pharmacists - the most accessible health care providers. The announcement comes as part of the National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 3-6 in Kansas City, Mo.

The Cardinal Health Foundation has renewed its support with a $50,000 grant to fund the NCPA Foundation's disaster relief program, which provides emergency assistance to independent pharmacies affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. The renewed funding builds on a partnership that has already helped independent pharmacies recover from significant disruptions, including the NCPA Foundation's response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, where grant support funded generators for nine pharmacies, Mental Health First Aid certifications for pharmacy staff, community health worker certifications, and wellbeing micro-grants for pharmacy teams working through the recovery.

"Independent pharmacies are cornerstones of community health, especially when disaster strikes, and their ability to remain operational is crucial to patient well-being," said Jessie Cannon, president of the Cardinal Health Foundation. "We are proud to renew our support for the NCPA Foundation's vital disaster relief program, which directly empowers these pharmacies to recover quickly and continue serving as essential healthcare access points during critical times."

This past year, the NCPA Foundation attended Cardinal Health's annual Retail Business Conference for independent pharmacies. There, it showcased its disaster relief work through a tabletop disaster preparedness workshop that helped attendees see the real-time decisions pharmacy owners and staff must make during an emergency.

"Independent pharmacies are often the first and most trusted point of care in their communities after a disaster, and they can't serve their patients if they can't keep their doors open," said Sonja Pagniano, executive director of the NCPA Foundation. "Cardinal Health Foundation's support allows us to move quickly when disaster strikes and get resources directly to the pharmacies and pharmacy teams who need them most."

Additionally, the NCPA Foundation has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Truist Foundation to support its Rural Pharmacy Ownership Accelerator, a program that prepares pharmacists to open, purchase and sustain independent pharmacies in rural communities. This will support the program's 2026 inaugural cohort through graduation and help to grow recruitment, nurture curriculum, and provide technical assistance for the 2027 cohort. The investment allows the Foundation to significantly expand Rural Pharmacy Ownership Accelerator's capacity, increasing the number of participants served and deepening the support available to each of them as they move from ownership planning to opening their doors.

Truist Foundation's support reflects its ongoing commitment to creating pathways to economic mobility, small business development, and healthy communities.

"Independent pharmacies often serve as more than health care providers in rural communities and helping them thrive is one way we bring Truist's purpose - to inspire and build better lives and communities - to life," said Namrata Yadav, chief culture and philanthropy officer at Truist. "They are trusted neighbors, employers and cornerstones of local well-being. When pharmacy owners have the resources and guidance to grow sustainable businesses, entire communities benefit through greater access to care, stronger local economies and healthier futures."

The Rural Pharmacy Ownership Accelerator complements NCPA's in-person Pharmacy Ownership Workshop, sponsored by McKesson, which together offer pharmacy entrepreneurs a comprehensive ownership education pathway.

"Rural communities lose pharmacies faster than they can replace them, and the barrier is rarely a lack of interest. It is a lack of capital, mentorship, and practical guidance at the moment when a pharmacist is deciding whether ownership is possible," Pagniano said. "This Truist Foundation grant lets us meet more of those pharmacists at that decision point, and it strengthens the support we provide well past graduation."

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About the NCPA Foundation

Founded in 1953, the NCPA Foundation is the only foundation in the United States dedicated exclusively to supporting independent community pharmacists. A 501(c)(3) organization holding a four-star rating from Charity Navigator as well as Candid's Platinum Transparency seal, the Foundation invests in pharmacy ownership pathways, disaster relief and preparedness, workforce development, and student scholarships and programs. Its programs, including the Rural Pharmacy Ownership Accelerator and Pathways to Pharmacy Ownership, are designed to keep independent pharmacies open and accessible in the communities that depend on them. Learn more at ncpafoundation.org.

About Truist Foundation

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation's leading initiatives - the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at TruistFoundation.org.