The Bainum Family Foundation has spanned five decades filled with many important moments and milestones. Our 2018/2019 fiscal year is one of them, as it weaves together the conclusion of one chapter in our history and the start of another.

More than a decade ago, my father, Stewart Bainum, offered me the opportunity to lead this organization, which was near and dear to his heart as well as to my mother’s. The Foundation was created out of their personal experience of breaking the bonds of poverty through education and persistence — and their lifelong commitment to helping others overcome the obstacles they had faced. They passed this commitment on to me, and I knew that with the shared passion of our high-caliber staff and partners, we could move the needle, helping children reach their full potential and thrive. I am very proud of where we are today — and I know my father would be, too.

Now we are at another inflection point. In July 2019, I retired as CEO and President while retaining my role as Chair of the Board. David Daniels, who most recently served as the Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer, was named CEO and President in November. We are thrilled about what David — who has built a track record of success within our organization over the past eight years — brings to the role.

While this is a story about what’s changed, it’s also a story about what remains constant. For the past 51 years, we’ve been inspired and sustained by the same four core values my parents wove into our organization from the beginning. These values of Continuous Learning, Integrity, Collaboration and Commitment have formed the thread that connects my family, the Foundation’s work, and the Foundation team and Board. They represent who we are and what we stand for, and we are working to make sure they show up in everything we do, both internally and externally.

Wherever our journey takes us in the years ahead, these values will remain the bedrock of the Foundation. And that’s why, in our 2018/2019 Year in Review, we have chosen to focus on our core values, illustrating how they come to life through our work and inside our organization, helping us create lasting impact in the communities we serve.

I am grateful to have served as the Foundation’s CEO and President. I look forward to my continued role as Chair of the Board — and to watching the values embraced by my family flourish both within our walls and, ultimately, far beyond them.