Director of Communications at Horizon Foundation of Howard County, MD - Columbia, MD, US
The Horizon Foundation is leading community change so everyone in Howard County can live a longer, better life. We are committed to improving health through innovative initiatives, collaborative partnerships, strategic grantmaking and thoughtful advocacy. Our work is driven by community needs and is shaped around strategic solutions that promise a significant lasting impact on physical and mental health in Howard County. As the largest independent health philanthropy in Maryland, we are driven to help everyone in our community – especially those facing the greatest challenges. Our track record shows we are making progress, and we are continuing to work toward a more vibrant, healthier Howard County.Over the past 19 years, we have invested $45 million in more than 250 organizations tackling major public health challenges in Howard County. Our track record shows we are making progress helping people make healthy choices and improving access to health care. Among our achievements, we helped bring a federally qualified health center to the county that provides critical health care to people in need. Our work with our partners also has led to one of the lowest rates of uninsured people in the country. We have helped improve school lunches, supported a county bikeshare program to make it easier to get vital exercise and led an initiative to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks that resulted in a 20 percent drop in soda sales. We focus on four key strategies to make Howard County a healthier place to live and work. We:• Lead our own family of results-driven outreach and policy initiatives, including Howard County Unsweetened, Open Streets Howard County and Speak(easy) Howard; • Partner and collaborate with community organizations and leaders to advance health and wellness priorities; • Provide grants to support innovative programs and build organizational capacity among our partners; and • Build coalitions and advocate for policies that improve the quality of life for everyone who lives or works in Howard County.