CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS

A Day in the Life of Executive Director and CEO

“T o say that the world has changed is an understatement and in some ways an inaccuracy,” Marsha Atkind, executive director and CEO of The Healthcare Foundation of NJ (HFNJ), said. “An inaccuracy because the change continues every day.” Through their COVID-19 Emergency Grant Initiative, the Millburn-based foundation gave $50,000 to Morristown Medical Center in April, in concert with the surge of COVID-19 cases in Northern New Jersey. The emergency grant money helped to purchase much-needed equipment for critical care patients. Prior to the pandemic, HFNJ’s $8.5 million in annual grants focused on projects that improve the physical and emotional health and wellness of people of all ages, with emphasis in recent years on the health of children and behavioral health initiatives. HFNJ has donated more than $1 million since 2000 to Morristown Medical Center, supporting areas that are a part of their core mission. Since the pandemic began, HFNJ has cast its safety net wider to capture those impacted hardest by the crisis.

In 2019, HFNJ gave $250,000 toward the Valerie Fund Children’s Center expansion as part of the Growing Forward Campaign.

Amid this ever-changing environment, here is a peek at Marsha Atkind's new normal: 7:00am She starts her day over Cheerios with berries, reading The New York Times, njspotlight.com and health-related websites. 8:45am Her commute has shortened to her upstairs office. “My condo is filled with light,” Atkind said. “The light was always important to me, but now the daylight is doubly important.” 9:00am to 12:00pm Atkind addresses emails and phone calls, many from healthcare organizations requesting additional grant money to purchase PPE and requests from food banks needing extra supplies. HFNJ awarded 33 COVID-19 grants in its first round of funding totaling in excess of $1 million. Another $2 million will likely be awarded this fall. 12:00 to 1:00pm After grabbing a sandwich or a salad and reading a book, she takes a walk. “I need to refresh both body and brain, so I don’t listen to anything while I walk,” Atkind said. “I just take in the trees and the neighborhood.” 1:00 to 5:30pm She speaks with various HFNJ lay leaders, and fields more grant requests with community partners. Her conversations center on the immediate protective and sanitization needs of agencies and hospitals, providing food to newly unemployed and homeless constituents and outreach efforts to connect the extremely vulnerable to other crucial supports. She balances these calls with Zoom meetings and emails with her staff and board of trustees, keeping abreast of the issues of the HFNJ's base constituency. 5:30pm “I let out a big sigh and take another walk before dinner,” Atkind said. “I love to cook and have developed a close relationship with my wok. Stir fry is my favorite.” Afterward, she watches TV and then turns in for the night. She knows that rest is necessary before beginning all over again in the morning, finding new ways for HFNJ to help as many people as they can.