Welcome to this special edition of Faces of Philanthropy, looking back at what was a momentous year at the Foundation. At the start of 2009, we knew that we were facing daunting challenges driven by deteriorating economic conditions and the need to “reset” our own work in the midst of trying times.  Thanks to the incredible generosity and trust of our many donors, clients and partners, along with the hard work of our volunteer leaders,  staff and grantees, we were able to meet or exceed nearly all of the ambitious goals we established for the year.

Most important, we set a target to maintain the same level of funding in 2009 as we did in 2008.  Ever since September 11, we have understood the importance of the Foundation’s resources in a down economy when government funding and private sector support declines while there are increasing demands for the services provided by a wide array of organizations and for additional financial assistance to individuals.

Even though our collective endowments, as well as those of our private foundation clients, saw major declines in 2008, we were able to award more than $41 million in 2009, the highest amount in the history of
the Foundation and exceeding our previous year’s record by more than $5 million. These funds were used for an incredibly broad spectrum of needs ranging from scholarship assistance and stipends for adult day care to grants that helped to preserve our natural environment, build the capacity of non-profit organizations, double the amount of artists and arts organizations in our public schools, and support to at-risk teens to avoid unhealthy choices related to tobacco and drugs.

In this issue, we are pleased to share with you other highlights of the Foundation and new directions. Thank you, on behalf of the Foundation and our community, for your generosity, commitment, compassion, and support.