From the Chairman

It is in times of peril and diminishing resources that what remains to be done in any community emerges with greater clarity. It is in these difficult times that the underlying spirit and resiliency of a community is both tested and measured. In such times, what is needed most is leadership, refocusing of priorities, assistance to those most in need and creativity in seeking solutions.

In the past year, our Foundation has refocused its priorities and redoubled its efforts to provide leadership in facing up to the challenges of possible terrorist attacks, and to the impacts on organizations and programs in the county of an economic recession, a devastating three-year dive in the stock market and growing governmental budgetary deficits. In 2002, as the areas of greatest need in the county have begun to declare themselves in the wake of budget cuts, the Foundation distributed grants totaling almost $2 million and refocused our future grant programs to provide additional financial and organizational support to the organizations which form the safety net in the county for those most in need.

As this report explains, at the core of our agenda of strategic initiatives is an effort to build the capacity and resiliency of a number of county organizations and institutions in addressing the most significant challenges facing our county.

We want to thank the many leaders and organizations in the county who have helped rekindle the spirit of cooperation and can-do optimism in these difficult times, as well as the many individuals and organizations who have helped us to advance our strategic initiatives. We trust that this 2002 Annual Report will help describe the path which we traveled in the last year, but more importantly, will help illuminate the path that lies ahead in carrying out our mission to enhance health and wellness in the Howard County community.