History

The Foundation for Community Health was launched in 2003 with help from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) as a result of the sale of Sharon Hospital to Essent Healthcare, Inc.

Connecticut law requires that the net proceeds from the sale of a not-for-profit hospital acquired by a for-profit organization, such as Essent, remain in the charitable sector through the creation of a “conversion” foundation. As stated in the statute, the resulting charitable fund will be used for charitable health purposes consistent with the nonprofit hospital’s original purpose. This process was guided by Connecticut’s Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and formalized by a decision of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut.

The Foundation for Community Health is a separate, independent corporation acting as a non-profit public charity (501(c)3) and a Type III supporting organization of BTCF. It is governed by its own 15-member volunteer Board of Directors, each of whom maintains residence in FCH's communities.