Robert Sheff Named Board Chair of The Horizon Foundation

Thursday, February 8, 2007

The Horizon Foundation, Howard County's largest philanthropy, today announced that Robert N. Sheff, M.D. has been named chair of its Board of Trustees. Prior to his retirement in September 2004, Sheff served as the Chairman of the Medical Management Committee of the Patuxent Medical Group.

Dr. Robert Sheff

Dr. Sheff has served as Chair of the Humanim and the Columbia Foundation Boards. He also was a member of the board of directors of Leadership Howard County and the county's United Way Partnership. He currently is Chair of Howard County General Hospital's Medical Review/Ethics Committee. He received his B.A. from U.C.L.A. in 1965 and his M.D. from the same school in 1968. His post doctoral training was at Johns Hopkins and in the U.S. Public Health Service.

Richard Krieg, the Foundation President & CEO, said, "Bob has been an outstanding Foundation Board member and has also served with distinction in other nonprofit organizations. He has finely honed board and community leadership background coupled with years of experience in the healthcare field."

Krieg added that Sheff has been an active member of the Foundation's Grants and Special Initiatives Committee, and was the Committee's Chair during 2006.

Sheff is the third Chair of The Horizon Foundation, which was established in Howard County in 1998. He follows former Rouse Company General Counsel Richard G. McCauley, and, most recently, Padraic Kennedy, who served as President of the Columbia Association for 26 years.

"Under Pat Kennedy, we developed strong partnerships and community alliances while focusing more clearly on strategic objectives," Krieg said. "The Board was expanded to include the highest echelon of leaders in the county. Bob’s background gives us a unique opportunity to take a fresh look at the Board, how the Trustees work together and bringing the Board’s work to the next level of excellence."

With approximately $90 million is assets, The Horizon Foundation addresses health and wellness issues through strategic grantmaking and partnerships with private and public institutions.