Supporting the Workforce Behind the Counter, the Table, and the Chair
When a medical crisis hits, the David C. Howard Foundation is here to bridge the financial gap. We provide critical medical care grants to the dedicated service, hospitality, and beauty professionals who take care of our community every day—ensuring that a health emergency doesn't jeopardize your livelihood.
Who We Serve
Hospitality & Food Service
Providing medical financial relief to front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant personnel, kitchen staff, servers, bartenders, hosts, and catering teams.
Behind the Chair Outreach
Providing a critical safety net for the hands-on beauty and personal care artists who keep our community looking and feeling its best—including licensed cosmetologists, hair stylists, barbers, estheticians, and tattoo professionals.
At The David C. Howard Foundation, we believe that no one who shows up to serve others should ever have to choose between paying a medical bill and putting food on the table. We exist to support cooks, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, hosts, line cooks, licensed cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, tattoo artists, and every member of the service and personal care family who keeps our community fed, celebrated, and cared for. When a health crisis hits — and in this industry, it often does — the financial weight can feel impossible to carry alone. That is where we come in.
We know this community intimately. Many of our founders and volunteers have worked in kitchens, behind bars, on the floor, and behind the chair. We understand the early mornings, the late nights, the split shifts, and the reality that most service-industry jobs do not come with strong health benefits. That is not a failing of the workers — it is a gap in the system, and together we are here to help close it.
See Our ProgramsHow We Help
Providing critical support when it matters most
Medical Co-Pays
We cover medical co-pays and deductibles so hospitality workers can access the healthcare they need without financial stress.
Financial Assistance
Direct financial support to help service-industry workers bridge the gap during health-related hardships and recovery periods.
Wellness Support
Holistic wellness resources including mental health support, counseling referrals, and community connections for long-term wellbeing.
Our Impact
Every dollar donated goes directly toward easing the financial burden of healthcare for hospitality workers in our community. We keep our overhead low and our commitment high — because we know these workers by name, we know their stories, and we know what it costs when help does not come in time. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier service-industry community — one worker, one family, one act of generosity at a time.
Make a Difference Today
Annual Giving Program
donate.annual.badgeSet up a recurring monthly payment to provide sustained, reliable support for workers in need. Monthly donors are the backbone of our mission.
No overhead. No runaround. Just help, delivered with dignity. Together, we make sure the hardest-working people in the room are never left to face a health crisis alone.
Join Annual GivingSubmit a Grant Application
Whether you work in food service, hospitality, or the beauty and personal care industry — our application is open to you. If you are facing a healthcare-related financial hardship, please reach out. Our application is simple and straightforward — we ask only for the information we need to understand your situation and get you the right support. Everything you share is treated with complete confidentiality and compassion. There is no shame in asking for help. You have spent your career taking care of others.
Let us take care of you. We review every application personally, and we respond within 5 to 7 business days. Approved applicants receive funds directly to cover eligible medical expenses, with no strings attached.
Simple, confidential application with no complicated paperwork — our team reads every submission personally and responds within 5 to 7 business days.
Fast turnaround — approved applicants receive funds directly to cover eligible medical expenses, with no middleman and no runaround.
Every application is treated with complete privacy and genuine compassion. We are not a bureaucracy. We are neighbors who care.
Medical Assistance Application
Complete the secure application below. Our team reviews every request with dignity, compassion, and urgency.
Reach Out to Us
Whether you need assistance, want to volunteer, or have questions about our programs, we would love to hear from you.
Email Us Directly
Info@dchbehindyou.org