A 2018 Celebration to Launch Philadelphia Health Partnership

Honoring Our Past; Launching Our Future

After 20 years of supporting nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia Region, we took a moment on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the launch of our new name and priorities as Philadelphia Health Partnership. We invited all those in attendance to join us in realizing our vision of a Philadelphia in which everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health and well-being. As we gathered to share and learn together, we affirmed that everything we do connects to health.

The Theme is Partnership

Board Chair Estelle Richman and Executive Director Ann Marie Healy began the event by recognizing the many partners who have contributed to our growth and evolution as the First Hospital Foundation. Then, a video presentation ushered in the moment we all had been waiting for: the reveal of our new name and logo. Program Director Lauren Wechsler subsequently shared the overarching focus of our grantmaking moving forward: the integration and coordination of care and services for the uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved – including the priority populations of 1) young children, ages zero to five, and their parents and caregivers and 2) immigrants and refugees.

Highlighting voices from the field, the program proceeded with remarks from two of our current grantees. Linda Peyton from Legal Clinic for the Disabled described the value of integration of care and services using medical-legal partnerships as an example. Antoinette Kraus and Jessica Foster from Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) then spoke to the importance of community voice and leadership and ensuring that the priorities and needs of those who are most affected by current health disparities are at the forefront of efforts to design and implement systems, policies, and programs that advance health equity.

Three panelists from the City of Philadelphia shared their perspectives on partnership from a public sector perspective: Eva Gladstein, Deputy Managing Director for Health and Human Services; Dr. Thomas Farley, Health Commissioner of the Department of Public Health; and Liz Hersh, Director of the Office of Homeless Services. The three policymakers spoke to the City’s capacity to foster collaboration both internally across departments and externally with cross-sector stakeholders and communities to create conditions in which all individuals can thrive. Board Vice Chair Loree Jones reflected upon the panelists’ remarks and facilitated questions from the audience. Following the conclusion of the program, we gathered for refreshments and conversation, while collectively raising a glass to the Philadelphia Health Partnership’s future.

Onward and Forward

As we build upon our history of supporting access to quality and care and services for vulnerable populations, we recognize the value of our relationships with community leaders and nonprofit organizations as well as policy makers and local government. We are more dedicated than ever to using our resources to make the greatest impact on the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities in Philadelphia County, and we are committed to leveraging partnerships across sectors.

Advancing Health Equity. Championing the Integration of Care and Services. Fostering Collaboration.  Everything We Do Connects to Health!