Prevention Institute honored by the St. Joseph Fund with the Guardian of the Mission Award
On September 15th, 2026, Executive Director Rachel A. Davis accepted the St. Joseph Fund Guardian of the Mission Award on behalf of Prevention Institute. The award reflects St. Joseph’s faithful stewardship of resources, relationships, humble service, and solidarity to community. The recognition came as the St. Joseph Fund celebrated its 40th anniversary—a milestone Rachel described as a testament to the organization’s enduring vision and commitment. In accepting the award, Rachel reflected on the values that have shaped the partnership between Prevention Institute and the St. Joseph Fund: stewardship, relationships, humility, and solidarity.
“We only get to work toward our vision because of partnerships like the one we have with the St. Joseph Fund,” Rachel said in her acceptance. “We are so appreciative for the recognition and for our long-term partnership.”
That partnership has supported PI’s vision that all people experience their full potential for health, safety, and wellbeing across the life course through thriving, equitable communities. It has also created space for PI to work alongside communities, respond as conditions change, and remain grounded in community priorities.
Across our work, we have learned that advancing health equity and racial justice requires attention not only to what we seek to change, but also to how change happens. That means considering whose knowledge is valued, how resources and decision-making are shared, and whether communities have meaningful power to shape the conditions that affect their health, safety, and wellbeing.
The St. Joseph Fund’s long-term, mission-aligned support has enabled PI to bring that approach to our work while learning alongside communities. At a time when commitments to equity and racial justice are being tested, Rachel emphasized that the recognition carries particular significance.
“We receive this recognition with gratitude and a sense of urgent responsibility to steward that trust well and continue standing in solidarity with communities as they lead change,” she said.
Rachel also acknowledged the difficulty of the current moment for communities, organizations, and the broader ecosystem working toward health equity and racial justice. In that context, she described the award as both affirming and an opportunity to recommit to the work ahead.
We are grateful to the St. Joseph Fund for this recognition, for 40 years of leadership, and for a partnership rooted in trust, shared values, and a commitment to communities.