In 2003 the Central Hillsborough (Federal) Healthy Start (CHHS) Program leadership, staff and key community stakeholders participated in two community summits that led to an endorsement of the development of a nonprofit organization. This necessitated a transition that allowed the university to maintain its role as the director of research and evaluation while the grassroots community became the primary stakeholder in the Healthy Start Initiative and took greater leadership in increasing opportunities and resources to promote and protect the health and well-being of its citizens. Thus, CHHS successfully began the process of transitioning the ownership and governance of the CHHS Project from university-based to community-based via the establishment of REACHUP, Inc. (Respond, Educate, Advocate, & Collaborate for Health in Underserved Populations).