mission statement
The RAC Fund for Social Justice will work to support Rebecca’s dreams of improving health and health care for everyone through bold policy change and health system reform. Rebecca believed that health is a basic human right, not a privilege for some. And she therefore also believed that major public policy and system reforms were needed to ensure that everyone has equal access to all of the main social determinants of health – quality education, safe physical environments, food security, affordable housing, and affordable and quality health care--regardless of race, income, or where people live. Rebecca also believed that the U.S. health care system, including hospitals and insurance plans with their major resources and influence, needed to be reformed to have a stronger focus on prevention, community health, and the social factors that drive health inequality.
The overall mission of the RAC Fund for Social Justice is to keep Rebecca’s dream for health equity alive. To reach this goal, the fund will provide scholarships to like-minded University of Michigan graduate students who are committed to the same vision and goals as Rebecca, and who are also investing in dual graduate degrees that combine deep training in both public policy/advocacy/system reform and health, including public health and medical care.
Funds could also be disbursed to tax exempt organizations working toward the goals Rebecca believed and organizations that impacted Rebecca’s life.
Year-End Message from Rebecca's Family
To Our Supporters of the RAC Fund,
Our family established the Rebecca A. Copeland Fund soon after we lost Rebecca, both to keep her spirit alive and to carry forward the ambitions she dared to dream. From the time she was a young child, Rebecca cared deeply about what was “fair.” Whenever she was told what to do, she would often reply, “That’s not fair.” As she grew older, this instinct evolved into a thoughtful perspective on the inequities she saw around her.
Determined to make a difference, Rebecca spent a summer volunteering in Nashville’s “food deserts,” helping bring fresh produce to underserved neighborhoods. She also led small educational seminars on the benefits of healthy foods. In her own way, she worked to level the playing field.
Rebecca was equally passionate about health care and the structure of our health care system. She believed it was fundamentally fair that all Americans should have access to care. A 2017 article that deeply influenced her thinking “Is Health Care a Right?” by surgeon and health care expert, Atul Gawande, helped shape her path toward graduate studies in public health and public policy.
Because of your generosity, RAC Fund has been able to accomplish the following:
Support ten graduate students at the University of Michigan who are preparing to lead in health care access and population health.
Provide four internships at the Center for Health & Research Transformation, where Rebecca interned during graduate school.
Fund summer camp scholarships for children who would otherwise miss out on the experiences that shaped Rebecca’s childhood.
Support research led by Rebecca’s graduate school mentor in public health and public policy.
Partner with Experience Camps, guiding children through the grief of losing a loved one, an organization especially meaningful to Rebecca’s closest friends.
Provide resources to The Institute of Soil & Soul, a regenerative farm that donates all its produce to The Ark where it can feed families facing food insecurity, a cause Rebecca cared for deeply.
Every gift, at every level, extends Rebecca’s legacy of fairness and gives real people a chance at healthier, more equitable lives.
As we look to the year ahead, we hope you’ll remain by our side. Your continued generosity allows Rebecca’s spirit and values to live on, supporting more organizations that embody the fairness and opportunity she intended to devote her life to. You can make a gift today HERE.
Thank you for the kindness you’ve shown our family, and for helping keep Rebecca’s spirit alive through the work we do in her name.
David, Liz, Sarah, Jason, Jonathan and Mallory
2025 In review
CHRT’s Rebecca Copeland Memorial Health Policy Internship
The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) is a nonprofit health policy center at the University of Michigan that transforms data and research into practical information used to shape policies and practices that improve the health of people and communities.
Rebecca worked with CHRT while earning graduate degrees at the University of Michigan Schools of Public Health and Public Policy. Deeply committed to improving health and health systems for vulnerable populations, Rebecca brought enthusiasm, excellence, and analytical rigor to her work. At CHRT, she contributed to projects focused on expanding access to services, strengthening public health systems, and supporting more equitable health policy.
In Rebecca’s memory, CHRT established the Rebecca Copeland Memorial Health Policy Internship. Generously supported by the Rebecca A. Copeland Fund for Social Justice, the internship provides high-achieving individuals committed to health equity and social justice with the opportunity to continue the kind of meaningful, impact-driven work Rebecca cared so deeply about.
Ford School’s Rebecca a. Copeland fellowship
The Rebecca A. Copeland Fellowship was established by the Copeland family in memory of Rebecca, who earned dual master’s degrees in Public Policy and Public Health from the University of Michigan. She was devoted to advancing health equity through bold policy change, health system reform, and a deep commitment to improving health and health care for all.
The fellowship supports outstanding University of Michigan graduate students who share Rebecca’s commitment to public service, health equity, and social justice. Recipients are selected for their dedication to addressing systemic inequities and improving outcomes for vulnerable and underserved communities.
Since its creation in 2021, the fellowship has supported seven students pursuing meaningful careers in public policy, public health, social work, and related fields. Through these Fellows, Rebecca’s legacy continues—carrying forward the values, purpose, and impact that defined her life and work.
REmembering REbecca
STUDENT, TEACHER, COLLEAGUE, FRIEND
In her time at the University of Michigan, she had a profound impact on the people who knew her. The community that was touched by Rebecca stretches across states, the nation, and even international borders.
sCHOLARSHIP
SUPPORTING FUTURE LEADERS
The first grants $17,000 scholarships from the RAC Fund were awarded to two dual degree masters students at the University of Michigan in 2021. Both are pursuing dreams and objectives similar to Rebecca’s. Our hope is that Rebecca’s aspirations have inspired others to take bold action and pursue careers that impact our society. Together, we can build a community of well-educated, thoughtful individuals dedicated to improving the lives of many.
Bringing Change
The RAC Fund for Social Justice will work to support Rebecca A. Copeland’s dreams of improving health and health care for everyone through bold policy change and health system reform.
Officers
David Copeland
Elizabeth Copeland
Sarah Kozin
Jason Kozin
Jonathan Copeland
Mallory Copeland
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