Connecting GE People with Communities Globally

GE does business all over the world and the GE Foundation, our philanthropic arm, is a vital way in which our people connect with communities globally. With a commitment to education and health, the Foundation has made great strides in service of this goal. Having served on the Foundation board since January, I am honored to take on an expanded role as president and look ahead to 2020 and beyond in our next evolution in making a greater impact globally.

The Foundation is driving improved access to quality healthcare for underserved communities across the developing world. Our Safe Surgery 2020 initiative empowers cross-functional teams to “train the trainers” so they can teach local teams in developing countries how to provide greater access to effective and safe surgical care. Safe Surgery 2020 does this by engaging in-country partners to identify specific skills-training and equipment needs in vulnerable communities. In addition, our disaster and humanitarian relief program supported relief and recovery efforts for Hurricane Florence, the Indonesian Sulawesi tsunami, and the California wildfires.

Locally at our Boston headquarters, the Foundation is playing an important role in advancing STEM education in Boston Public Schools and addressing the opioid crisis in Massachusetts. In education, we’ve introduced mobile STEM labs to provide students with hands-on experiences to 3D printers, and launched immersive coding bootcamps to introduce students to core STEM competencies. In community health, we’ve trained providers in behavioral health and addiction medicine at community health centers, and connected community primary care providers with medical experts in addiction treatment.

The strides we have made in these areas have come under the direction and leadership of Ann Klee, who as previously announced is leaving GE in September. Thanks to Ann’s commitment and dedication, the GE Foundation has made meaningful improvements in education and health in GE communities worldwide.

I want to personally thank the small but mighty team of David Barash, Jennifer Edwards and Kathleen Mayglothling, who work day in, day out with our community partners worldwide to move these initiatives forward.

Learn more about the GE Foundation by visiting www.gefoundation.com or following us on Twitter.