Gift will advance health solutions for underserved communities in East Tennessee and expand specialty care across the US
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — MAVEN Project, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to high-quality comprehensive health care for underserved communities, has announced it received a substantial charitable gift of real estate valued at $1.3 million from Amy Buckner Chowdhry, a tech entrepreneur and philanthropist who lives in Nashville.
Late last year, Chowdhry donated a parcel of land (located in Mill Valley, CA) so that the nonprofit could benefit from the sale. The property was donated in December 2024 with the proceeds going to MAVEN Project. While not as common as straight-forward donations, real estate gifts are becoming more common—and nonprofits are benefitting.
The proceeds will help advance MAVEN Project’s efforts to connect clinicians at community clinics with a virtual network of medical experts across more than 70 specialties, with a particular focus on serving communities in East Tennessee.
Cherokee Health Systems, a Federally Qualified Health Center headquartered in Knoxville that serves about 70,000 patients each year, will receive funding to access MAVEN Project services and to subsidize the time for its staff to participate in MAVEN Project educational activities. In addition, funding will support the expansion of MAVEN Project services to Blount County Health Department and Dayspring Health, two community health centers in rural and medically underserved areas.
Tennessee currently ranks 44th in health outcomes according to the 2023 America’s Health Rankings report and 36th in child well-being, according to the 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how children and families are faring.
The funds will also help integrate new technology into the MAVEN Project platform and expand core programming, including a new Learning Management System (LMS) online to reduce barriers to clinicians accessing clinical education. It will also be used to support improvements in the Community Portal, the one-stop-shop where clinicians can access all MAVEN Project resources. Finally, it will enhance usability and performance features of the platform as well as integration with existing clinical workflows through EMR integrations.
The donation will also help expand the MAVEN Project’s services nationwide, with a particular focus in states where Medicaid was not expanded and in rural areas where access to specialty is particularly a challenge, regardless of insurance status.
“We have stronger, more resilient communities when every individual can bring their best selves to their families and neighbors. And we have a moral responsibility to ensure that all Americans have access to necessary health care when and where they need it,” Buckner Chowdhry says. “I’ve been so impressed and inspired by MAVEN Project’s model. They connect medical specialists who have the need, capacity and desire to give back to communities with the most need. I see enormous potential in their digital platform and their mission.”
“We are deeply grateful for Amy’s donation, which will not only allow us to expand our services to more communities but also bring resources and relationships that will empower local health care providers across the U.S.,” says Meredith Schanda, chief operating officer of MAVEN Project. “Her generosity reflects an extraordinary commitment to addressing health care inequality at its roots, with holistic, sustainable solutions. We are thrilled to partner with Amy in tackling these challenges head-on, ensuring that every community can experience the health and well-being they deserve.”
Schanda explains that as an organization that relies on individual donations, a gift such as this is substantial and will have a positive impact on patients served by partner community health centers.
“Amy is definitely an inspiration,” she adds. “The unique nature of this real estate gift may even encourage others to consider their legacies and how their wealth can impact communities in need and causes they care about.”
To learn more about the many ways people can give to MAVEN Project, go to mavenproject.org/donate.
