Our Vision & Mission
The vision of the Foundation for Seacoast Health is a healthy community for all by championing initiatives that positively influence and enhance the well-being of every resident. Through grant allocation, convening, and collaboration, we strive to effect meaningful change by amplifying philanthropic efforts and supporting innovative solutions to the health and well-being gaps in our service area.
Our mission as leaders in the advancement of a healthy Seacoast community through initiatives that impact and promote the well-being of all its residents.
We recognize that health should not be considered only from an acute or curative point of view but should also include a broader sense of a positive state of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Improving the health and well-being of Seacoast residents has been the core mission of the Foundation for Seacoast Health since 1984.
Our values shape who we are and guide our work.They include Impact, Collaboration, Equity, and Integrity.
Board of Trustees
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. As the governing body they lend their experience and advice to the organization helping to shape strategic direction and assuring attention to mission. In addition, the organization relies on a robust committee structure that includes other experts from the community. Committee members are appointed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Committees are focused in the areas of Governance, Finance & Investment, Audit, Strategic Planning, and Community Investment which includes Grants and Scholarships.
Stuart Levenson, Chair
Jenifer Cannon, Vice Chair
Peter George, Treasurer
Andrea Daly, Secretary
Thomas Blais
Jennifer Cutts, MD Robert Hickey, MD
Jason Kroll
Darci Knowles
Paul Leyden
Tania Marino
Elisabeth Robinson, ARNP Timothy J. Durkin
The Foundation Staff
The Foundation staff communicates the vision and mission of the Foundation and represents the Board of Trustees in all aspects of operations.
Debra S. Grabowski
Chief Executive Officer
603.422.8200
dgrabowski@ffsh.org
Kathleen Taylor
Finance Director
603.422.8200
ktaylor@ffsh.org
Noreen Hodgdon
Executive Assistant
603.422.8200
nhodgdon@ffsh.org
Honorary Members
The distinction of honorary member recognizes individuals, in perpetuity, who have had a lasting impact on the organization. This includes founding members of the Foundation and others whose contribution has been so great that others aspire to meet the standard set. Honorary members are nominated by the Governance Committee and elected by the Board of Trustees.
Donovan Albertson, MD
Robert Allard
Peter Bergeron
Timothy Connors
Kenneth Chute
Catherine Goodwin
Eric Gustafson
William Henson
Daniel Hoefle
Thomas Keane
Bradford Kingman
Wendy McLaughlin, MD
J. Gregg Sanborn
G. Warren Wilder
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
In 1983 Hospital Corporation of America purchased Portsmouth Hospital. The details of that sale are included in a document referred to as the asset purchase agreement. In addition to the specific sales transaction, the agreement outlines the authority of the Foundation going forward which includes the monitoring of the following:
Continued access to clinical services offered at the time of the sale
Availability of free and subsidized care
Hospital charges that are competitive within the Seacoast market
Maintenance of the Hospital in first class repair and condition
Of utmost priority is the Foundation’s responsibility to appoint eight of the nine voting members of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital Board of Trustees. In addition, the CEO of the Foundation serves as ex-officio on the hospital Board. These individuals represent the medical and Seacoast community and meet regularly with medical staff and Hospital leadership. As Trustees, they attend to the above as well as other responsibilities typical to a subsidiary hospital Board under Hospital Corporation of America. Foundation and Hospital Trustees meet in a joint session from time-to-time to discuss the above and learn about trends and changes in the local, regional and national health care environment.
2024 Board of Trustees, Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Mary Lyons, Chair
Katy Lilly, MD, Vice Chair Trevor Emory, MD
Tricia Cummings Eric Gregg
Sonja Nelson, MD
Taraneh Azar, MD
Vic Maloney Dean Carucci, CEO, Ex-Officio
Debra Grabowski, Ex-Officio
“The rich history of the community-based Portsmouth Hospital lives on through the mission of the Foundation for Seacoast Health”