…..a new beginning | Washington Health Foundation

The Washington Health Foundation (WHF) has a rich history of innovative programs and projects that changed the lives of people and the futures of communities across our state. Whether through direct service programs, policy development, engagement strategies, education, research or the more than 14 million dollars WHF awarded in grants over the past 20 years – the Foundation has designed, developed and implemented more than 160 projects to improve people’s health. We don’t just talk about change – we drive it. And have been doing so since 1992. You may be surprised to know of the some of the programs we established. Below are just a few examples.

Child Profile is a state wide program that prides itself on saving the lives of children. But there was a time when the Child Profile program itself needed saving.....and the Washington Health Foundation (WHF) was there to help. WHF provided a special $1.5 million dollar grant to support this incredibly important program, at a time when the state legislature was unwilling to fund Child Profile through general operating revenues.

What’s more, the Foundation led a process to set a more sustainable future path for the organization, even employing an interim executive director to lead the process of exploration. Greg Vigdor, President & CEO of the WHF, was an active leader of the new futures workgroup.

It has always been our intent to advance our mission and vision by stimulating local action, not by taking credit for our accomplishments. History frequently forgets who was really responsible for achievements, and that is just fine. Many have no doubt long since forgotten the important role WHF played in saving this program. But the work Child Profile is still able to do today serves as an excellent example of how our organization's ability to take action will help us one day achieve our goal of making Washington the Healthiest State in the Nation!

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