As the year begins to come to a close, the Foundation would like to take a moment to honor Dr. Nayef Samhat, who will be retiring from the Foundation’s Board of Trustees after 8 years of service.

From the very beginning, Dr. Samhat was drawn to the Foundation’s mission and the people behind it. “It was the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of people at the Foundation and on the board to advance health and wellness in our community,” he shared, that originally motivated him to serve. Over the years, what kept him engaged was the ongoing learning, collaboration, and connection. “Thinking, learning, and hearing about what our community partners are doing, and working with the team to devise new strategies to realize our goals, is energizing and fulfilling.”

For Dr. Samhat, who served as board chair in 2023, some of the most meaningful moments have come from hearing directly from the Foundation’s funded partners during site visits or through stories shared by staff in board meetings. “Connecting conversations around the board table and with the team to actual impact is inspiring,” he reflected.

When asked what stands out most from his time as a trustee, Dr. Samhat pointed to the power of philanthropy to step in where other systems fall short. “The needs of communities across the nation (and the world) are far outpacing the capacity of governments and the will of societies to close gaps,” he said. “Foundations and philanthropy are essential to provide basic needs, services, and other forms of support. The work of philanthropy is more important now than ever.”