Reflections by Dr. Cathann A. Kress, chair of the board of trustees,
for the 2023 Annual Snapshot
Last fall, in a highlight of my two-year term as board chair of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, we had the pleasure to meet with several of our grantee leaders during our board trip to New Mexico, one of the priority places where we are committed for a generation to move the needle on behalf of children.
Listening to and learning from the stewards of our grants and feeling the optimism and passion they bring to their work in addressing the needs and opportunities for all the children they serve in New Mexico’s diverse communities, reinforced for me that our purpose and direction are spot on.
As Mr. Kellogg realized when he launched his eponymous foundation over 90 years ago, its mandate must be to prioritize the needs of children above all others, putting them first so that all children – everybody’s children – may thrive.
As Mr. Kellogg realized when he launched his eponymous foundation over 90 years ago, its mandate must be to prioritize the needs of children above all others, putting them first so that all children – everybody’s children – may thrive. And during these troubled times, when wars and environmental crises put millions of children in danger, our founder’s call to precisely focus WKKF’s work continues to guide our strategic approach to promoting children’s health, happiness, and well-being.
For me, 2023 reinforced the importance of not only doing the work but truly listening to those we serve across the United States, in Michigan, New Mexico, Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as in Mexico and Haiti. Our staff held coffee chats, virtual discussions, in-person meetings, three regional gatherings and conducted an online survey to listen deeply to the wisdom, experiences and insights about our shared future our grantees have drawn from their frontline work on behalf of children.
During our visit in New Mexico, we met many of the latest class of Community Leadership Network (CLN) fellows that the foundation announced this year in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership. Talking with these local, diverse and intergenerational leaders demonstrated to me the important role the CLN program plays in nurturing the talent and commitment of those who lead in the communities we serve. Philanthropic organizations like ours can pour money into programs, but dollars alone may add up to nothing without effective local leadership.
Our commitment to these bold and resourceful people has reinvigorated our foundation and given countless local leaders the tools, relationships and know-how to optimize their impact. While we evolve to meet today’s realities, what isn’t changing is that children will always be our sole focus – and that the governance oversight provided by the board emphasizes ongoing reviews of our grantmaking and evaluation of their impact on the lives of the children we serve.
The experience our board members had in New Mexico reminded me of when I joined the administration at The Ohio State University in 2017. While I knew the inner workings of academia, having spent several years already in education, I didn’t know the nuances of how Ohio State operated. It’s critical to be able to step back and keep learning and recognizing the uniqueness of what is in front of us.
As a board member at WKKF, I think the same is true of the communities we serve – understanding the nuances of how a community works is critical to ensuring we can deliver the resources and support they need to create an environment where every child can thrive. While each of us sees the world through our own lens, we must set aside our viewpoints to listen, learn and appreciate the insights of others. On our New Mexico trip, we had the chance to listen and explore the critical nuances of the challenges and opportunities facing these local communities – something we must continue to practice as we carry on the important work of helping children flourish.
While each of us sees the world through our own lens, we must set aside our viewpoints to listen, learn and appreciate the insights of others.
As my term as chair ends, I am delighted to support Dr. Khan Nedd, the CEO of Answer Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Nedd has dedicated his career in medicine to making lives better. And, as board chair, I know he will bring his zeal and vast experience to improve the lives of the children we serve worldwide.
Dr. Nedd is precisely the kind of thoughtful, mission-driven individual we need as a leader. I’m confident that his dedication to Mr. Kellogg’s legacy will serve the board – and the foundation – in instrumental ways during his tenure. I look forward to supporting his leadership as I continue to serve as a board member.
I know that I speak for the entire board when I say that as proud as we are of the work the foundation’s staff has been able to accomplish under the leadership of President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron, we’re equally excited about the work on the horizon for the children, families and communities we serve. As always, our foundation will relentlessly focus on supporting impactful outcomes that will enable children everywhere to reach their full potential.
Explore other leadership letters in this year’s snapshot
Reflections by La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO
By the Numbers by Don Williamson, chief financial officer and treasurer
