As COVID-19 swept across California, a nonprofit called the Multicultural Health Foundation connected independent doctors and health care workers with low-income and minority residents of San Diego County.

The organization, founded in 2012, partnered with San Diego County to launch the Together Against COVID campaign in September, a marketing and education effort to reach black Americans who were reluctant to get tested and vaccinated against COVID. virus. Black health professionals, locally elected officials and pastors led the campaign.

“The population most resistant to treatment and vaccination are African Americans,” said Dr. Rodney Hood, president of the Multicultural Health Foundation.

The foundation works with insurance companies, community clinics, hospitals, the public sector, philanthropists, faith-based volunteers and patients to advance health and prevention programs.

Recently, the Multicultural Health Foundation was named California Nonprofit Organization of the Year in 2021 by Assembly Member Dr. Akilah Weber, a Democrat who represents California’s 79th Assembly District. , which includes parts of southeastern San Diego, Bonita, Chula Vista, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and National Town.

“They were determined to ensure that in San Diego, the black community and other underserved communities were not left behind in this pandemic,” Weber said.

Over 43% of African American residents eligible for the vaccine in San Diego County have been vaccinated, according to county data, compared to 71% of Latinos, 63% of whites, nearly 70% of Asians and 99% of Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and those of several ethnicities. About 45 percent of American Indians and Alaskans have been vaccinated.

The Multicultural Health Foundation’s marketing campaign featured advertisements on TV, radio, print, website, social media, billboards and bus wraps.

It also involved people. Felicia House, a community health worker who speaks regularly about the vaccine, said her goal was to try to dispel myths and rumors spread on social media. She became involved after her sister died from COVID-19 in Oklahoma, she said; it’s personal for her.

“Not only did I lose my sister, but now people in my community are affected,” she said.

Jan Masaoka, CEO of California Associate of Nonprofits, said the pandemic and shelter orders in place over the past year and a half have highlighted what local nonprofits are doing for the community.

“The California Nonprofit of the Year is an opportunity for our elected officials to celebrate the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities, ”Masaoka said.