Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Organization announces next CEO
The Brandywine Health Foundation Board of Directors on Tuesday announced that Vanessa Briggs has been named as the foundation’s new president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Briggs, who assumes her position on July 17, is an experienced leader in the field of public health with roots in the Philadelphia area. Brandywine Health Foundation officials said that Briggs has dedicated her entire career to advancing health equity and has worked to empower vulnerable families and youths to live healthier lives.
“I am honored and excited by this opportunity to lead the Brandywine Health Foundation as it continues its commitment to create vibrant healthy communities in greater Coatesville,” Briggs said in a statement.
She joins the foundation with expertise in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations and in building multi-sector partnerships between health providers, policymakers and community members.
“For more than 20 years, my career has focused on developing strategic alliances and partnerships with diverse stakeholders who are unilaterally dedicated to solving complex community health, economic and social problems,” Briggs said. “It will now be my privilege to return to southeastern Pennsylvania and use that experience as I work with donors, grantees and partners to build a healthier future in our growing community.”
Jason D. Alexander, MPP, incoming board chairman said that Briggs is highly skilled in working with communities to solve complex problems through multisectoral strategic partnerships, community engagement, health promotion and education, and disease management interventions.
Alexander said that as president and CEO, Briggs will guide the overall organizational vision, strategic direction, operating and fiscal policies to ensure successful fulfillment of the foundation’s mission with governance from the board and input from the staff. Alexander added that Briggs will continue to strengthen the Brandywine Health Foundation’s well established reputation through increased visibility and by further building, maintaining and nurturing its network of donors, grantees, and community partners so critical to the mission of the foundation and its work in the greater Coatesville area.
Briggs replaces former President and CEO of the Brandywine Health Foundation Frances Sheehan who held that position for 15 years in Coatesville. Sheehan began in January as the first president and CEO of Crozier-Keystone Community Foundation in Delaware County. Sheehan guides the activities of the foundation with a focus on health, education and social needs of Delaware County residents. Dana Heiman, who served as the vice president for development and communications at the foundation, was appointed as the interim CEO after Sheehan left.
“After an extensive formal search process, led by a committee of the board and with consulting support from Criterion Search Group, Inc., our board believes that Vanessa’s skills and expertise will complement the incredible talents of the foundation’s current staff and volunteers,” board Chairwoman Dawn James said. “We are looking forward to providing our donors, grantees, and community partners with several opportunities to meet her in-person over the coming months.”
Before joining Brandywine Health Foundation, Briggs served as vice president, community health, at Holy Cross Health in Silver Springs, Maryland. Prior to that, she was the executive director for the Health Promotion Council, an affiliate of Public Health Management Corporation. In her 15 years at the Health Promotion Council, Briggs grew the organization’s budget threefold during her tenure while
developing and leading several large-scale regional and national childhood obesity, nutrition and health equity initiatives, according to Brandywine Health Foundation officials. Briggs began her career in senior dining and clinical nutrition services to improve the quality of life for older adults for Marriott Sodexho Health.
Briggs is a registered dietitian and holds a master’s in business administration, with a concentration in health aAdministration, from Eastern University in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor of arts in dietetics from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.
The Brandywine Health Foundation has distributed more than $16 million in grants and scholarships since its inception in 2001. Signature projects include bringing ChesPenn Health Services and other needed health services to Coatesville, building the Brandywine Health and Housing Center, which the foundation
noted was the first major development in the city of Coatesville in more than three decades, and launching the Coatesville Youth Initiative, the Youth Mental Health First Aid Program, and the new Greening Coatesville Initiative. Signature events include the Brandywine Strawberry Festival with more than 25,000 visitors annually, and the Garden Party, which has more than 500 supporters attend each spring. Collectively the two events contribute more than $200,000 to health-related causes in the community, according to Brandywine Health Foundation officials.
For more information about the Brandywine Health Foundation, visit www.brandywinefoundation.org.