September 27, 2024

HIF Celebrates 50 Years

On Friday, September 27th, the HIF Board of Trustees hosted the Foundation's 50th Anniversary Celebration at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. With more than 100 community partners in attendance, the focus of the morning was '50 years of community impact and partnership.' The HIF team, in partnership with the team from Leadership Montgomery, cultivated the opportunity for nonprofit partners, government leaders, and community advocates to share ideas for future collaboration and programming.

Partners at round tables under the Collaboration and Networking screen, BlackRock Center for the Arts

The morning

The breakfast kicked off with opening remarks from HIF's Board of Trustee and Secretary, Mike Knapp. Knapp's remarks offered highlights of the history of the Foundation, starting in 1973 with its modest grant of $2,000 to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Fire and Rescue to support the purchase of an ambulance.

As a way to highlight examples of successful collaboration and partnership, three Collective Impact Stories were highlighted through video and breakout sessions. Partners from the Healthcare Workforce Education Pipeline (The Universities at Shady Grove and Montgomery College), Food is Medicine (Community FarmShare, AfriThrive, Care 4 Your Health, WUMCO Help, and Mid-County United Ministries), and the Youth Behavioral Health Eco-System (EveryMind and Identity, Inc.) shared their stories of collaboration in pre-recorded zoom conversations and participated in the morning's breakout sessions with attendees.

The feedback received during the event was clear – more opportunities to thoughtfully and intentionally connect for future collaboration is desired by community partners and leaders.

Opening remarks at the podium under the "Celebrating 50 years of community partnership and impact" screen at HIF's 50th Anniversary breakfast — Opening remarks under the "Celebrating 50 years of community partnership and impact" screen

A speaker at the podium introducing the Collaboration and Networking breakouts — Introducing the Collaboration and Networking breakouts

The day

Two women embracing in front of the BlackRock Center for the Arts backdrop at HIF's 50th Anniversary breakfast — A welcome in front of the BlackRock Center for the Arts backdrop

Three guests standing together by the gallery windows — Three guests by the gallery windows

Partners from American Diversity Group and the Prevention of Blindness Society in conversation in the gallery hall — American Diversity Group and the Prevention of Blindness Society in the gallery hall

The gallery hall full of round tables and guests at the 50th Anniversary breakfast — The gallery hall at breakfast

The full photo album

Thank you

The Healthcare Initiative Foundation Board of Trustees and staff would like to thank all of our community partners who attended our 50th Anniversary Celebration at BlackRock Center for the Arts on Friday, September 27th.

We appreciate your ongoing commitment to advancing a healthy community!