FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Andy Burness

Tel: 301-652-1558

Locally and Nationally Recognized For Her Commitment to Social Justice, Health Equity, and Activist Philanthropy, O'Bryon Has Led the Foundation Since 1998

Washington, DC, December 15, 2011-Margaret O'Bryon, who has led The Consumer Health Foundation (CHF) since it started its work in 1998 as the Washington, DC region's first private health foundation, will step down as president and CEO in September of 2012. Following her official departure, Ms. O'Bryon will remain connected to the foundation as a part-time senior strategist.

"Margaret's vision of an equitable and just Washington Metropolitan region where the needs of our most vulnerable residents are always at the forefront of our decision making will be a lasting legacy of her leadership at this foundation," said Christopher J. King, chair of the CHF Board of Directors. "Margaret will be deeply missed not simply because of the tremendous work she's done, but because of the person she is, and the compassion and purity of heart with which she approaches her mission."

Known locally and nationally for her commitment to activist philanthropy whose hallmark is social justice fostering innovation that starts at the community level, Ms. O'Bryon was recently announced as the recipient of the 2012 The Terrance Keenan Leadership Award from Grantmakers in Health. The award honors outstanding individuals in health philanthropy whose work is distinguished by leadership, innovation, and achievement. It will be presented to Ms. O'Bryon in March. She was cited in a public statement conferring the award for "her ability to add a passion for the cause and a concern for the people. She has found, through her deep sincerity and commitment to serve, a way to be a bridge over the chasm often between giving and need."

Strongly committed to creating an innovative grant portfolio that reflected the needs of the region, under Ms. O'Bryon's leadership, CHF earned a reputation as a collaborative funder that works in partnership with the community, other funders, nonprofit organizations, and local leaders. Specifically, during her tenure, CHF spearheaded major health equity and social justice initiatives including:

• Significant work to advance safety-net primary care in the region, including guiding the DC Primary Care Association from a small local health network to a cutting-edge primary care association, and co-founding the Regional Primary Care Coalition, the Health Working Group of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, and other collaborations committed to improving the health of low-income uninsured residents and eliminating racial/ethnic health inequities.
• Creating an innovative capacity-building program for grantees to provide training and consulting assistance in a variety of areas, allowing the grantees to gain critical in-house expertise in technical skill areas such as communications and advocacy.
• The 2006 Speakout Series and Report which hosted town hall meetings throughout the region and publicly committed CHF to launching conversations and philanthropic action around the impact of structural racism on health.
• Piloting the Racial Justice Assessment, which measured how well a foundation's work advances social justice. One of only two foundations in the country to embrace the program, CHF found the assessment, which evaluated every aspect of the foundation, far from easy. However, Ms. O'Bryon forged on, encouraging discussions between staff and board, and ultimately gaining insight on ways the foundation could enhance its grantmaking and better serve the community.

"For me, the work of philanthropy has always been about people-the people you serve every day and the people you are privileged to call your colleagues,"said Ms. O'Bryon. "In my years at the Consumer Health Foundation, I have been supported at every step by committed, progressive, smart, and dedicated board and staff members. I am also incredibly grateful to my funder colleagues and to the greater non-profit community in the Washington region. Their vision, leadership, and bold actions on behalf of our most vulnerable residents are a true inspiration and will continue to serve our community well."

Beginning immediately, the CHF Board will conduct a search for Ms. O'Bryon's successor.