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The Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service
The Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service honors outstanding John Merck Fund grantees whose work embodies the extraordinary creativity, dedication and foresight that marked Frank Hatch's leadership of the fund from 1987 to 2006.
The award is made in the form of a $50,000 grant, given annually, to
an individual at a current or former JMF grantee organization. The individual
can be at any stage of their career, from formative to mature. The recipient
is given the discretion to decide, with JMF consultation, whether the
award will be made to his/her organization, to the individual directly,
or to both in combination. If the award is made directly to an individual,
JMF takes the responsibility for apprising them of potential tax consequences.
2009 Award Recipient
Michael Belliveau is the Executive Director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a nonprofit public health organization that promotes human health, safer chemicals and a sustainable economy based in Maine and working nationwide.
Mike is a public policy expert and social entrepreneur who’s recognized nationally for promoting environmental public health and green chemistry. For thirty years, he has advanced innovative policies and strategic organizing to prevent harm and develop a sustainable economy. Through Mike’s leadership of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, the State of Maine has set the national pace for protecting human health from unnecessary dangerous chemicals. He co-founded the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, which led the campaign that passed a landmark state law that requires safer chemicals in everyday products. Mike’s also a co-founder and policy coordinator of SAFER, the State Alliance for Federal Reform, a multi-state coalition working to overhaul chemical policy throughout the United States.
At the Strategy Center, Mike co-launched a model regional economic development strategy through the Sustainable Bioplastics Council of Maine. This innovative business-university-nonprofit consortium works to research, develop and commercialize production of bio-based plastics made from Maine potatoes. The manufacturing of this non-toxic, petroleum-free, and bio-compostable material will create good green jobs and boost Maine’s rural economy.
Previously, he led the most comprehensive mercury reduction campaign in the nation for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. In California, Mike directed Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), which he built into a powerful voice for urban environmental health and justice, and industrial pollution prevention. He was named by California Magazine as one of the people most likely to have a major impact on that state. He was appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown to the California Hazardous Waste Management Council.
Mike grew up in New England and graduated from MIT with an environmental science degree. He lives with his family on Pushaw Lake in Maine on the edge of l’Acadie, the homeland to ten generations of his Acadian ancestors. When he’s not on the road, Mike loves to paddle or ski from his back door, or wander round the garden.
2008 Award Recipient
Rosanne Haggerty, founder and executive director of Common Ground in New York, is the third recipient of the Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service.
In 1990 Ms. Haggerty established Common Ground, a nonprofit housing development organization that provides innovative housing opportunities and community support for the homeless, disabled, and other marginalized groups. Common Ground has since become the preeminent supportive housing provider in the country, as well as a leading consultant on the problem of homelessness internationally.
Ms. Haggerty plans to use the award to advance the work of Common Ground, as well as that of Safe Harbors of the Hudson, a partner organization that enriches lives through the combination of affordable housing and arts-related community-building activities.
2007 Award Recipient
Gary Cohen, executive director of Environmental Health Fund and Health Care Without Harm in Boston is the second recipient of the Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service.
Mr. Cohen plans to use the award to advance the work at several of the organizations with which he is associated, including Health Care Without Harm and the Environmental Health Fund. In addition, the new startup firm Green Harvest Technologies, which is designed to create a market for plant-based plastics, will receive some assistance through the award.
“We are awakening to the reality that it is getting harder to support healthy people on a sick planet. We are also realizing there is no conflict between the environment and the economy – in fact, the economy of the 21st century needs to be a green economy,” Mr. Cohen said. “Over the next decade, we will need to transition from a petro-chemically based economy to one that is based on green chemistry, sustainable agriculture and global consciousness. I am happy to be a part of this life affirming transformation.”
2006 Award Recipient
Tiffany Bluemle, executive director of Vermont Works for Women in Essex Junction, has been named the first winner of the Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service by The John Merck Fund. Ms. Bluemle received the award at a June 6 ceremony in Boston to honor Mr. Hatch, who retired after nineteen years as the foundation's chairman.
Ms. Bluemle plans to apply the award to research and advocacy related to the Vermont Works for Women's programs with incarcerated women. "This award gives us an unusual opportunity to reflect and build on our work in strategic and creative ways, an unthinkable luxury for most nonprofits," she said.