GIH Bulletin

Terrance Keenan (1924-2009) had a profound impact on both the field of health philanthropy and generations of individuals who have been inspired by his wisdom and values.

Policies made at the local level have a tremendous influence on people’s health. Whether it’s the quality of foods served in schools, water fluoridation, urban zoning, or minimum-wage requirements, the list of health-related policies determined or regulated at the local level is nearly endless.

In case you’ve missed the news, we have a new location and date for the 2017 GIH annual conference. We’ll be in Boston, Massachusetts June 21-23, 2017.

Welcome to the new all-digital Bulletin! This issue is special for us in that it marks our transition from a printed newsletter to one that is housed entirely on our website.

In May, GIH’s board decided to relocate the 2017 Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy from Charlotte, North Carolina, to another city. The decision was sparked by the controversy surrounding the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act (HB2), North Carolina’s new state law.

This year’s annual conference was the largest one ever—which we are happy about—but it is the story behind the numbers that resonate the most with me. Three of my top takeaways are:

Leila May Polintan, 39, was GIH’s Communications Director from 2007 to 2016. Sadly, we lost her on Saturday, April 2 after a courageous 3½-year battle with breast cancer. Leila had a large footprint at GIH: she designed and managed our electronic communications, oversaw the monthly Bulletin and annual conference materials, and wrote our style guide

Health philanthropy has played a critical role in supporting strategies to reduce disparities and tackle the complex factors at the root of unequal health outcomes.

The Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation’s recent correctional health grantee meeting was an eye-opening lesson for me about the magnitude of health needs for people who are incarcerated, and the limited involvement of health funders.

In December, I attended a meeting that demonstrated philanthropy’s ability to convene across sectors to raise awareness and solve problems. The focus was the crisis being experienced by Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent living in the Dominican Republic