May is National Foster Care Month, a time set aside to acknowledge those who work to provide safe and successful futures for the more than 400,000 children and youth in foster care across the United States. The theme of Foster Care Month 2013 is "supporting youth in transition," a focus pertinent to our foundation's strategic objectives.

On Wednesday, April 3, we welcomed approximately 100 friends and partners in the local business community to join us in celebrating the completion on our new office building. The main construction team leaders were on hand to give brief remarks, including Steve Matt (MATT Construction) and Ted Hyman (ZGF Architects), and the Mayor of Agoura Hills, Denis
Weber. Foundation Board member Sister Joyce Meyer and Julie Tumamait, a Chumash Elder, also gave a spiritual blessing. Staff members provided guided tours of the campus for our guests. A small brochure about the features of the building is now online, as well as a book by ZGF Architects about the design of the building. Photos of the event are available online.

We’re proud to announce that the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation recently reached a new milestone, surpassing $1 billion in funds distributed since our inception. What started as a vehicle for my grandfather’s personal charitable contributions has grown into one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the U.S., with 11 priority areas impacting all four corners of the globe. While he would be proud of this legacy, I have no doubt that Conrad Hilton would tell us to focus on the next billion. His personal motto was “Dream Big,” and he would not want us to rest on our laurels or lessen our commitment to addressing the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

This issue of Quarterly Connection highlights some of our past, present, and forthcoming work, from World Water Day to Hurricane Sandy to homelessness in Los Angeles. Many thanks to those of you who have already contributed to our blog, Horizons. As always, we look forward to hearing your feedback and invite you to subscribe and join the discussion online to share your thoughts and comments.

On March 22, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation will join the rest of the world in celebrating World Water Day. Every year since 1993, when the date was first devoted to water, we have joined efforts to focus attention on the critical importance of clean water to our planet’s health. It is a time of celebration, as we recognize and honor the work of our partners, but also a time to reflect on the condition of vulnerable individuals who lack access to safe water.

On February 13, Chairman, President & CEO, Steven N. Hilton welcomed nearly 70 guests to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's convening on Ending Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles: Evaluation Findings and Next Steps. On the 30th floor of the AT&T building, grantees, philanthropic, and public sector partners enjoyed a dramatic backdrop view of Downtown Los Angeles and heard findings and recommendations from the year-one evaluation report for our Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles, as presented by third party evaluators, Abt Associates, Inc.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation supports programs and activities to respond to and prepare for disasters. Some of the Foundation's support in this area is a direct response to disasters that have already occurred. However, an increasing part of our work is focused on identifying opportunities for the Foundation to support and promote disaster preparedness, as well as strengthening vulnerable communities before disaster strikes.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is saddened by the loss of one of our first Hilton Humanitarian Prize jurors and one of the world's great leaders in the public health arena, Former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. Dr. Koop served on the Prize jury from 1996-1999, lending his unique perspective to the consideration of our first Prize nominees. Appointed as the 13th surgeon general of the United States by President Reagan in 1981, Dr. Koop was known for bringing world attention to the AIDS epidemic as well as the health dangers of smoking. He was an inspirational leader and outspoken on issues that he felt mattered in the public health arena. Interestingly, he is likely one of the only surgeon generals the public can name today. While his passing is a loss to the world, it is also one for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, to which he contributed insight, expertise and inspiration in our earliest days. He will be missed.

This issue of Quarterly Connection comes to you from our new home in Agoura Hills. We moved in about a month ago. Our thanks go to everyone involved in the transition and to all of you who have patiently followed our progress this year. The dust has finally settled, and we’re looking forward to a productive new year in 2013.

You can find more information about our Agoura Hills location at our New Campus web pages. We’ve also created a new online section specifically for our grantees and partners, and some of you may have noticed the recent launch of our blog, Horizons. We look forward to adding stories about the Foundation and our activities regularly, so be sure to follow the blog, subscribe to new posts, and contribute your thoughts or comments.

The Hilton Foundation has made critical contributions to trachoma control and prevention, particularly in Ghana, Mali, and Niger—all of which are poised to eliminate trachoma by 2015. However, the goal of global elimination by 2020 is not yet met. Our newest In Practice report, "Eliminating Blindness from Trachoma Infection," shares lessons learned from our past 15 years of grantmaking in the sector, and makes recommendations for future impact. Download the highlights or the full report.

As part of its efforts to help philanthropists make better decisions, The Bridgespan Group filmed interviews with more than 50 philanthropists and foundation leaders. In a recent interview, Steven Hilton discusses how the Hilton Foundation balances strategic giving with the charitable interests of family members, how the Foundation decides where and how to invest, and the ways his grandfather’s values continue to shape the Foundation today. View the videos.

On November 2, approximately 100 leaders from public, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors gathered at the Conference Center at Cathedral Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. The goal of the meeting was to exchange ideas, experiences and strategies to better align health and housing resources for the benefit of homeless persons in Los Angeles County. The half-day convening was organized and sponsored by the Los Angeles Homeless Funders Group, a regional affiliate of Funders Together to End Homelessness.

The opening session included remarks from Jennifer Ho, Deputy Director at the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Richard Cho, Director of Innovation at the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), and Carol Wilkins, a consultant with Abt Associates. The speakers touched on opportunities to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

In the United States, foundation funding for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) has increased noticeably in the last 10 years, but it is still a very small portion of donations for international issues. U.S. foundations contribute only one percent—a drop in the bucket—of the overall investment.  

On October 29, 2012, our Los Angeles offices are relocating to our permanent home in Agoura Hills, California, approximately 30 miles north of our current location in Los Angeles. Our new campus is designed to exceed Platinum LEED standards, and plans for our future staff growth. Our new home will house the Foundation for many generations to come as we continue to carry out the mission of our founder.

Please be sure to update your files with our new information.

In August, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation launched a substance abuse strategy focused on prevention and early intervention. Substance abuse affects people of all ages but has its origins in youth, when the brain is less developed and patterns of substance use are especially risky. Evidence shows that a promising early intervention model—Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)—provides a cost-effective way to deter users from developing dependency or addiction. This model, however, is not widely available to U.S. youth.

This quarter, the board of directors of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation approved $7.8 million to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles to support the continued implementation of the “Home For Good” action plan, a partnership between the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to end chronic and veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County by 2016. In 2011, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported over 51,000 persons experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County every night; 12,500 of them are long-term or chronically homeless individuals.

Since 1990, the Foundation has granted nearly $60 million seeking to solve the problem of homelessness, of which $35 million has targeted our current focus area of increasing access to supportive housing in Los Angeles County.

Read the press release

Construction started in July 2011 and we're please to announce our planned move-in date of October 29, 2012. Building crews are currently 21 days ahead of schedule.

Construction began on our new campus in Agoura Hills last July.

Upon receiving word that migratory bird hatchlings located in an oak tree on the site have taken flight, the California Department of Fish and Game recently approved the go-ahead to begin grading.

A small gathering—including Board members, employees, the architect, general contractor and members of the Hilton family—participated in a traditional Native American ceremony blessing the land. Julie Tumamait, a Chumash Elder, led the proceedings and Sister Joyce Meyer, PVBM, Executive Director of the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters—one of the Foundation's main grantees, which will also be housed on the campus—joined in blessing the grounds.