Pfizer Fund Will Focus On Health

The Pfizer Foundation in New York is narrowing the scope of its grant making.

In the past, the foundation has supported a host of causes and groups, from art museums to colleges. Now, under new guidelines, it will focus almost exclusively on aiding health charities that serve the poor.

Foundation officials say they made the change because the foundation, which awarded $2.4-million in grants last year, wanted to tie its giving more closely to the work of its parent company, Pfizer Inc., the pharmaceutical giant.

This month, under its new guidelines, Pfizer announced $1-million in grants to 26 health charities across the country. Grants cover diverse projects, from hiring a managed-care specialist to creating an outreach program for blacks with diabetes and hypertension.

Pfizer says it will make follow-up grants, totaling $1-million, to the charities next year, provided the projects go well.

For more information about Pfizer’s new guidelines, request information about “Community Health Ventures” from Bass and Howes, 250 West 57th Street, Suite 2217, New York 10107; (212) 245-8735; e-mail chv@basshowes. com.