Dear Friends,
It has been a year since I became the CEO of The Health Trust (THT), and I can’t believe how fast time has passed. During the past 12 months I’ve had the pleasure of spending time in community, learning from the incredibly inspiring and creative non-profit organizations and partners the foundation has worked with over the past three decades. I have met one on one with many leaders in government, philanthropy, healthcare and community organizations. Yet, the conversations that stayed with me the most were with residents who spoke honestly about their struggles, hopes, and dreams for the future. Listening to those voices has been one of the greatest privileges of my first year.
As I reflect on what I have heard and learned over the past year, I also wanted to share what The Health Trust will focus on in the years ahead.
One thing has become clear; there is a lot of great work happening in Santa Clara and Northern San Benito Counties. When I first arrived, I witnessed the passage and overwhelming support of Measure A in Santa Clara County that will help support the devastating cuts brought on by the federal government. I also learned about the many non-profit organizations working collaboratively to build community power to advance health equity. These include collaboratives such as the Si Se Puede Collective!, consortiums like the Community Health Partnership and its network of Federally Qualified Health Centers, regional partnerships such as IPEN, and coalitions like the San Benito County Solidarity Network. These partners are truly the unsung heroes of our community and we at THT are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to improve health outcomes for those that have been targeted and made vulnerable by our country’s cruel and woefully inadequate social policies.
At the same time, I have heard the suffering people are going through, underscoring the urgency of this moment. It is still shocking that in 2026 in California’s Silicon Valley families are deeply worried about paying their rent or mortgage, will they have healthcare if they fall ill, and how will they make ends meet when the cost of living continues to soar, especially with the sudden and unprecedented federal slashing of core safety net programs such as Medi-Cal, SNAP, and housing benefits. Times are hard and the cuts from the federal government are cruel. These are the voices I hear every day, and they remind me that Californians who believe in fairness, justice, and equity must stand and defend our neighbors when they are being dehumanized, vilified, and attacked.
While many of you know The Health Trust as a direct service provider, about two years ago, the Board of Trustees decided it was time to make a change. We need to shift our work upstream, where the issues begin. We need to educate, enlist, and help our communities build power to make the change they want to see. We know those closest to today’s challenges are also closest to the solutions. They understand what is working, what is not and what lasting change requires.
So, in the future The Health Trust will continue to invest in non-profit and public agencies to work directly with community residents to uplift their voice and power. THT will be a catalyst for community-led change, and an advocate partner for creating improved health outcomes for all.
We envision a Silicon Valley in which all partners work together to ensure that food insecurity is eliminated. We will begin our advocacy work by learning from and collaborating with local organizations to help build a healthy and culturally appropriate food system that understands the cultural needs of recipients and centers local farmers in the food ecosystem. THT will also partner with healthcare providers, community and government organizations and advocates to help build a prevention-focused, accessible, and innovative health system that centers patients and not insurance companies.
My commitment to you is simple. We will always be a collaborator, and we will always listen closely to the voices of those in community. The Health Trust is looked upon as a trusted partner. Our goal is to remain a trusted partner while embracing new ways of working that create lasting change for everyone in Santa Clara and Northern San Benito counties. Together, we can build healthier communities where every person has a chance to thrive.
I look forward to continuing this work alongside you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tony Iton
CEO/President
Click the link to read the full 2026 Impact Report.
