We live in turbulent times, with the Black Lives Matter movement focusing long overdue attention on systemic racial inequities and injustice, the COVID-19 pandemic exposing gaps in our health care system, especially in the care that people of color and older adults receive, and the millions of Americans who are now unemployed and facing an uncertain future.
The gravity of these issues dramatically underscores the need for change, change that encourages us as individuals and as organizations to heed the words written by the late U.S. Sen. John McCain in his farewell letter, “by serving good causes bigger than ourselves.”
Healthcare systems and providers are challenged and overburdened while social services are stretched because of increased demand, decreased revenues, and having to reinvent themselves and the way they work. And yet, community-based organizations and healthcare providers who serve older people, many of whom have long been in the vanguard of efforts to support individuals and communities, continue to build momentum and advocate for change.
A strong community has emerged. For this, we are grateful.
As a foundation, we, too, recognize the need for change and the power in serving a good cause greater than ourselves. We have a responsibility to take an active role to address the challenges we now face by employing effective grantmaking strategies and engaging our leadership to help chart the course of our work.
Engaging New Board Leadership
During the pandemic, Archstone Foundation staff have been reaching out to our grantees to inquire about their needs and challenges. We are funding a number of COVID-19 emergency response grants and we are looking to our board leadership to help guide us in our work and in our strategic direction so that we will have the greatest impact on the lives and well-being of older Californians and their caregivers, while also thinking about our short- and long-term goals.
In 2019, Archstone Foundation began engaging new board leadership, with Cynthia Banks, Theresa Marino, and Heather Young, PhD, RN, FAAN, joining the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Now, we are honored to welcome three more new Board members:
- Angela Coron, MPH is the Managing Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region, where she directs community health/benefit activities to improve the health of communities in the Southern California region of Kaiser Permanente. Ms. Coron is responsible for planning, designing, implementing, evaluating, and improving community benefit programs and services in Southern California. Ms. Coron works to build and lead collaborative and strategic partnerships with philanthropic, policy, public health, and academic organizations to advance shared mission.
- John Feather, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer, Grantmakers In Aging, where he revitalized GIA, a national association of charitable foundations, public charities, and corporate giving programs who fund work to improve the lives of older people. Mr. Feather expanded the reach of GIA through strategic planning, development of education materials, creation of a social media presence, and fundraising.
- Tammy Funasaki, MBA serves as the Head of Investor Relations, Breakwater Management LP, where she manages all client relationships and capital raising efforts for private credit funds and co-investment opportunities, while developing a focus on institutional investors. Ms. Funasaki also works directly with the firm’s Managing Partners, CFO, and investment team to create and maintain all due diligence and marketing materials, investor letters, and data room.
While it is exciting to welcome new board leadership, it is also sad to say goodbye to the Honorable Lynn Daucher, Former Director, California Department of Aging, who served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors in various capacities since 2009. We are grateful to Lynn for her more than a decade of service, leadership, and commitment to Archstone Foundation’s mission.
Lastly, let us not forget that we as individuals also have an important role to play during the COVID-19 pandemic – practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands, and looking out for our neighbors, especially those who may not be able to care for themselves.
