A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

January 8, 2010

Dear Friends,

At the end of January, I will be leaving the F.B. Heron Foundation, and I want to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to all of you.

To the Foundation’s grantees and investees: your talents, insights and dedication are inspiring and have greatly enriched my life, professionally and personally. It has truly been an honor to know you and to have played a part in supporting the critically important work that you do to improve communities and help families take control of their futures.

I am grateful to the Foundation’s Board of Directors for their support and leadership. Throughout my tenure, the Board has challenged us to be creative and innovative in fulfilling our mission of helping people and communities help themselves, to listen and respond to our customers, and to deploy the Foundation’s assets to their highest and best use.

The staff at Heron is an extraordinary group of people. I have been privileged to work with such a committed, skillful, good-humored and good-hearted team. I wish the staff all the best as they carry on Heron’s critical work, and I am confident they will continue to do cutting edge work to address some of societies’ toughest problems.

In February, I will be joining the staff of Atlantic Philanthropies as Director of its global Ageing Programme. I am very excited to have this new opportunity to address the health and economic security issues of the most vulnerable older adults.

Throughout its history, prior transitions, and major shifts in the context in which we work, Heron has always placed its customers -- our grantees and investees – first. This value will remain paramount at Heron, so I know you will be in good hands going forward. Mary Jo Mullan will be serving as Acting President as Heron’s Board leads the Foundation through this transition.

I am so proud of what all of you have accomplished over the past 18 years, and I look forward to hearing about your important contributions in the future.

Best wishes,

Sharon B. King
President