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Highlights
Capturing Funds For Missouri
Since its inception in 2010, our MoCAP program has helped local groups apply for and attract federal and national funding for health- or prevention-focused programs. Over time we’ve leveraged our investment to bring in more than $286 million to the region. In fact, the amount of funds captured in 2019 was the largest in MoCAP history! Learn more about how the program helped capture HRSA New Access Points funding.
Making Missouri Schools Among the Healthiest
When the Alliance for a Healthier Generation released the 355 names on its list of “America’s Healthiest Schools” for 2019, 32 of them were in Missouri. Out of that total, all but one has been a participant in our childhood obesity initiative Healthy Schools Healthy Communities. Not only that, our partner Gateway Michael Elementary School received the state’s first gold-level honor. Congratulations to all the schools receiving this distinction!
Recognizing a Remarkable Leader in Health
Each year we add a new name to an illustrious list of recipients of our Dr. Corinne Walentik Leadership in Health Award. Congratulations to Dr. Nick Holekamp, vice president and chief medical officer at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, who received the 2019 award at our annual dinner in December.
Staff Honors
Chief Strategy Officer Kristy Klein Davis took part in the Aspen Institute’s 2019 ThinkXChange: Family Prosperity event. This convening was invitation-only, with participants limited to 200 people nationwide.
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer Jill Nowak was elected to the board of directors at Grantmakers in Health for a three-year term. GIH works with hundreds of philanthropic organizations throughout the U.S., and supports health funders through education, networking, and leadership.
Vice President of Strategic Communications Courtney Stewart received an Outstanding Alumna award from the Webster University School of Communications, where she earned her master’s degree. In addition, she was named one of the Power 100 by Delux Magazine. The group honors leaders in the St. Louis workforce who are also committed to making a positive impact in the region.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
Congratulations to MFH Board member Vetta Sanders Thompson, who was named the new associate dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity at the Brown School at Washington University. As the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Studies at the Brown School, she is committed to research, interventions, and engagement to support community efforts to achieve equity in health and well-being.
A Smile Can Change the World
Through her work as president and CEO of Paraquad, an organization devoted to empowering people with disabilities, Aimee Wehmeier uses the power of her voice to speak up for what she believes in. We are also proud to have her as vice chair of our Community Advisory Council. Watch her give a TEDxClayton talk about how “A Smile Can Change the World.”
Speaking Up to Stop Child Mistreatment
With our support, a public health researcher at St. Louis University has developed a training course to help give bystanders the skills to defuse challenging moments between caregivers and children.
Seeing the Future of Health with FORESIGHT
The future of health is difficult to envision, and to many it feels like we’re not headed down a more equitable path. This is why we’ve joined forces with 16 other health philanthropy organizations from across the nation to take part in FORESIGHT. Partners in this three-year initiative are working to build a shared understanding of our interconnected past, present, and future as the basis for equitably envisioning and bringing about a new future for health and well-being in the United States.
Policy Work as a Tool of Change
How do we look back on 15 years of our health policy work? Learn from our Chief Strategy Officer Kristy Klein Davis about the investigative writing project that helped give us a big-picture narrative of our efforts thus far, and how it will inform our work in the years to come.
Welcoming New Staff
A warm welcome to the three staff members who joined us in 2019
Gelinda Connell
Convening Center Event Coordinator
Rae Koch
Strategist - Initiatives
Jerry Schroeder
Facility Manager
Gelinda Connell
Convening Center Event Coordinator
Rae Koch
Strategist - Initiatives
Jerry Schroeder
Facility Manager
