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From the Chair
Collaboration is a great concept — one that closely tracks with the founding principles of Jim Rouse. When Columbia was young and Howard County was small, people learned how to collaborate. In some respects, it was a question of survival. The results are all around us in myriad organizations that arose from good ideas — and very close collaboration. Few communities have non-profit sectors that originated that way.
We are fortunate in those origins because collaboration has become a habit for the men and women who have assumed civic leadership positions in Howard County. We are able to be more effective and efficient when we lever-age the experience and expertise of individuals in the various sectors of the community in pursuit of the common good.
Starting at the board level, there is a tremendous commitment to collaborative leadership. Our trustees — many of whom were instrumental in the county’s evolution — see their Horizon board service as the pinnacle of their nonprofit leadership to date. We have a working board that is fully engaged across program areas.
The Horizon staff is exemplary in every respect. They are out in the community, developing, catalyzing and maintaining partnerships. Our president, Rich Krieg, who also serves as a Foundation Trustee, is viewed widely as a skilled and accomplished leader. Rich has specialized in moving difficult community issues forward — in tandem with a host of valued community partners.
And between board and staff, we are constantly out in the community, trying to contribute well beyond the financial support that we are able to provide.
Whether it’s developing new capacity building approaches with grantees, assisting nonprofits financially, launching major projects or listening to community members, at the Foundation, we care deeply about the partnerships that we are privileged to participate in.
And we thank the many organizations that have chosen to collaborate with us.