Dear FACES Community,
I am deeply honored to share with you that this September marks the 20th Anniversary of FACES for the Future!
As Founding Director, I am astounded by how quickly these years have passed and by how much we have accomplished during this time.
Looking back, I recall vividly how young people I cared for in our clinics at Children’s Hospital Oakland yearned for mentorship and opportunities for career development. We responded directly to those imperatives by creating FACES for the Future, and over the past 20 years, we have continued to respond by expanding our programs across California and in other states in order to support more children. I am proud to say that FACES programs have collectively served more than 4000 high school students since our original launch in 2000!
I feel great pride when I think of all of these extraordinary young people and the number of lives that many of them have impacted by entering the field of health care. I am also deeply humbled by the contributions of every individual – teachers, healthcare professionals, community partners, mentors, parents, funders, donors, etc. – who have contributed in some way to our collective efforts to ensure that every young person has the tools, mentorship and personal support they need to enter the health professions. What began simply as a modest program in Oakland has turned into a national model that serves 1200 students a year, operates in three states and is innovating every day! I am full of gratitude for each and every one of you and for your efforts throughout the years. This has truly been a collective effort and we have so much to celebrate together!
While we have had to postpone our 20th Anniversary celebratory event until a time when it will be safe to host it, we still want to honor and recognize our Anniversary in some way. So, we are calling September – FACES 20th Anniversary Month!
Over the course of this month, we will be posting a number of items – photos, quotes, updates and fun facts – on our social media platforms to celebrate our history and accomplishments over the years. I ask you to please join in the celebration by following us on social media using the links below.
