From the President & CEO
Change can take decades - or happen overnight. It can grow out of long efforts or burst forth in a "big bang" of sudden movement and illumination. But the light, unfortunately, can flicker. Lasting change - the kind that makes a real difference in our lives - is a shining but often elusive goal.
Philanthropy, though never content with the status quo, typically struggles to define its unique role in creating change. Some foundations stick to the cautious path of incrementalism, marking modest steps toward a larger goal. Others set a more ambitious agenda, only to find that external realities do not match elaborate "theories of change" outlined in boardrooms.
At Blue Shield of California Foundation, we aim to be a catalyst for change. In the real world, right now, wherever necessary. That means watching for sparks of opportunities - and moving quickly to capitalize on them. It means doing the hard work of figuring out which strategies promote positive change over the long term and staying committed to those strategies and grantees.
Today, California stands at the cusp of sweeping health care change. After long years of work by many, the moment arrived in an instant. If we are not courageous, it could pass as quickly. We must translate this opportunity into real accomplishments: expanding health coverage to all and addressing issues of cost and quality.
Tackling complex challenges takes allies, and our Foundationís most potent partners are our hundreds of grantees. With them, we are working to find new ways to ignite and maintain progress in communities across the state. Our grantees capture the pulse of health care provision and reform in California. And sometimes they add a jolt to the system.
Change happens. But sometimes it needs that little spark.
Crystal Hayling
President and CEO
Blue Shield of California Foundation
