A community-centric nonprofit started by a medical student at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine has received a $25,000 grant.
Spread the Love Projects (STLPs) received the funding from Gateway Analytical, an Aptar Pharma company.
STLPs was launched in 2022 by Emaad Khan, now a second-year student at OUWB.
The nonprofit is “committed to closing the health care equity gap by providing financial support, essential resources, and preventative care to vulnerable families, with a particular focus on those facing pediatric health challenges, to improve the quality of life for their children.”
The latest source of funding will allow STLPs to provide direct support to families. So far, STLPs has provided nearly $138,000 in assistance to about 2,300 families.
“It’s such a privilege to be trusted with that much money,” said Khan. “It’s a testament to the hard work our team does and even more so a testament to the people who are vulnerable enough to share their stories and reach out for help because I remember when that was so hard.”
Khan was born in Pakistan. In 2010, his family moved to Pittsburgh, drawn by a business opportunity for his father.
There were financial hardships, including times when the family had to go without health insurance. And the limited exposure the family had to health care was less than ideal. For example, Khan recalls having to go to federally funded community vaccination centers. They were “scary places” for a child.
Such experiences shaped Khan’s understanding of how intimidating and unwelcoming the health care system can feel for low-income and immigrant families. Those feelings were amplified when Khan started volunteering as an EMT while he was an undergraduate at University of Pittsburgh.
That’s because some of the runs put him face-to-face with families in crisis. He connected those scenes with his own upbringing and wanted to do something about it.
As a result, Khan launched STLPs and continually raised funds with the help of others like Gateway Analytical.
Khan said the support from Gateway Analytical comes at an important time as STLPs continues expanding its work and strengthening its ability to assist local families.
Funding will go directly toward meeting the needs of families served through easing financial burdens and ensuring children have access to the resources and support.
“We are incredibly grateful to Gateway Analytical and Aptar Pharmaceuticals for believing in our mission,” said Khan. “Their generosity will have a direct and lasting impact on the children and families we serve.”
Expanding in Michigan
Originally focused on helping those primarily in the Pittsburgh area, Khan has led an effort to expand the STLPs footprint to include Michigan.
In January, the nonprofit announced a new partnership with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.
And now several of Khan’s classmates are involved. That includes Ilyaas Rasheed, who is leading the nonprofit’s activities in Michigan.
Rasheed grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and went to University of Michigan for his undergraduate studies. He said he felt compelled to be part of STLPs because of his lifelong ties to Michigan and the fact that he believes in the nonprofit’s mission.
“I saw a need in our community and I saw something I could be a part of it and it honestly felt like a match made in heaven,” said Rasheed.
He said he also views it as an opportunity to broaden his perspective and strengthen his cultural competence as a future physician.
“To become a better doctor or even a better person, it’s important to expand yourself and your horizons so that you interact with all different kinds of people,” he said.
Khan said having classmates like Rasheed believe in the mission of STLPs feels exciting and reflects its growth.
“Having all of these people pitch in and join this community … it’s just so special,” said Khan.
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at adietderich@oakland.edu.
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.
