Riverside Community Health Foundation (RCHF) announced that President and CEO Dr. Dan Anderson intends to retire in March of this year. After serving 19 years as RCHF’s leader and 50 years serving the non-profit sector, he has been working with the current Board of Directors over the past several months in the selection of the foundation’s next leader to ensure a smooth transition.
Dr. Anderson knows transition quite well through his non-profit work and 31-year tenure with RCHF. He initially joined Riverside Community Hospital in 1993 as Hospital Chaplain and Community Benefits Coordinator. When Riverside Community Hospital was sold and became a for-profit in May of 1997, RCHF was created from an endowment from the sale of the hospital. Dr. Anderson went from overseeing hospital operations to becoming the Director of Community Outreach for the newly formed foundation’s community grants and programs, focusing on creating a healthier Riverside.
“It was a significant change. We went from serving the community hospital to tackling broader health implications for the greater community. Our new mission became ‘to improve the health and well-being of the community’ with a strong emphasis on advocating healthcare access for the low-income and uninsured population.” Dr. Anderson states.
Eventually promoted to Vice-President of Program and Services in 2002 and then President and CEO in 2005, Dr. Anderson played a vital role in developing the foundation from its inception to its current administration. He has grown the staff to a 48-member team with wide backgrounds in health education, public health, and community engagement. He was integral in setting the course for RCHF’s grantmaking process, numerous community projects, coalitions, and the construction and start-up of three community health centers: Arlanza Family Health Center and two Eastside Health Centers.
Since 1997, RCHF has established numerous outreach programs. In its early years, RCHF partnered with local health organizations forming much-needed wellness services such as Miles of Smiles, Health in Motion, teen health programs, and health education. As the need for more health and wellness services in the community grew and changed, RCHF has focused its programs in key areas such as: Women’s and Maternal Health, Community Health, Teen Health, Chronic Disease Prevention, and small grants supporting the work of other nonprofits. RCHF has adopted other community agencies including the Pink Ribbon Place (Riverside’s cancer resource center) and the Community Settlement Association (Eastside Riverside’s historic community resource center).
With the growing demand for health resources, the staff and programming outgrew its original office space located in the Health Education Center at Riverside Community Hospital. Dr. Anderson and the Board of Directors procured and renovated a larger building in downtown Riverside in 2017 to serve as the RCHF administration headquarters.
“Over the past three decades, with his steadfast leadership of RCHF, Dr. Anderson has steered the Foundation through remarkable growth. His unwavering commitment to community service has been the cornerstone of RCHF’s success. Under his guidance, RCHF has forged incredible partnerships and embraced opportunities that have transformed the Foundation and enhanced its ability to serve the community. Thanks to Dr. Anderson’s enduring leadership, RCHF stands poised to continue making a lasting impact for generations to come” – Michelle C. Burroughs, Board Chair.
About Riverside Community Health Foundation
Riverside Community Health Foundation is a 501 ( c )(3) non-profit public charity that has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community. Since 1997, RCHF has provided programs and services to our community. We offer a variety of free health education and exercise programs, three low-cost clinics operated by Neighborhood Healthcare, school-based health programs, and many other programs and services that are offered to our community for free. We serve all ages from babies to seniors. Check out our website at rchf.org for more information about our programs and services.
