Together in Health: HFNJ’s June 2026 E-newsletter
June 4, 2026In this Issue:
- Letter from the Board Chair and CEO (below)
- Second Quarter Grant Awards
- Interview with Amy Schechner
- Celebrating NBIMC’s New ED
- Adaptive Leadership Training
- Grants in Action: Imagine
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M’dor L’dor, From Generation to Generation
This issue of our e-newsletter marks an important milestone: this will be our last letter co-authored by Amy Schechner in her role as Board Chair. Amy served in this role since 2020 and led the Foundation with vision, steadiness, and an unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve. This transition period offers an opportunity to reflect on all that has been accomplished under Amy’s leadership over the past six years in the Foundation’s history.
Amy took the reins of the Board Chair in 2020 – just as the COVID-19 pandemic was metastasizing and bringing extraordinary challenges to healthcare providers. Amy helped lead the Board and staff through those unprecedented months with compassion, flexibility, and determination. Early on in her Chairmanship, Amy had to address the critical need of executive succession as long-time Executive Director / CEO at the time, Marsha Atkind, was planning for her retirement. The search for a new professional to steer the Foundation led to the hiring of Michael Schmidt, who worked with Amy to adapt the Foundation’s grantmaking strategies to provide essential support to healthcare organizations and frontline providers at a moment when communities needed it most.
As new challenges emerged, Amy continued to lead with a collaborative spirit that strengthened every aspect of our work. Under her guidance, the Foundation sharpened its focus on core medical and behavioral health needs. Adapting to emerging best practices in philanthropy, the Foundation began multi-year grantmaking, and this year we recently awarded $1.5 million through a timely initiative offering Core Operating Support to critical healthcare partners.
While the public face of a foundation involves the impact it has externally, what goes on behind-the-scenes is equally important. Amy always prioritized partnership with the professional staff and worked to bolster the board through the addition of new trustees. Amy’s careful stewardship of the Foundation’s financial resources and commitment to sound governance helped position the organization for continued strength well into the future. Thanks in large part to her leadership, the Foundation enters its next chapter with strong financial resources, clear strategic direction, and a renewed sense of purpose.
While we will miss Amy’s leadership as Board Chair, the Foundation will benefit from her guidance as she will continue to serve on the board in the role of Honorary Chair. She leaves the organization in an exceptionally strong position — equipped to meet new challenges, embrace new opportunities, and continue advancing the quality of healthcare in Newark and its environs and the Jewish community of Greater Metrowest.
At the same time, we are excited to welcome Steve Kamen as the Foundation’s incoming Board Chair. Steve brings extensive experience, both through his professional legal work in the healthcare sector and his volunteer work with non-profit organizations. We look forward to working together as we build upon the momentum of the past several years and continue pursuing innovative ways to improve health outcomes throughout our region. We know that as he takes on the role of board chair, Steve will be guided by the enduring spirit of past Board Chairs Lester Lieberman, Beth Levithan and now Amy. Their legacy reminds us that strong leadership is ultimately measured not only by accomplishments, but by the strength and resilience of the organization left behind.
In good health,
Amy Schechner, Board Chair
Michael Schmidt, Executive Director/CEO