News Release

New Communications Officer to Join Connecticut Health Foundation

HARTFORD, CT – March 24, 2011 – The Connecticut Health Foundation has announced Jenn Whinnem as its new Communications Officer. In this role, Whinnem will manage CT Health’s overall presence on the web, including the foundation’s website, social media networks, and e-mail campaigns.

“We are delighted to add Jenn and her social media and communications expertise to the CT Health team,” said Patricia Baker, president & CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation. “Her wealth of knowledge in this area will allow CT Health to broaden its impact on the social web in the areas of health policy research, children’s mental health, oral health, and racial and ethnic health disparities.”

Prior to CT Health, Whinnem spearheaded the creation and implementation of the social media strategy for Golden Compass, Inc., a staffing and recruiting firm based in Madison, CT. In this role, she also consulted to several clients on using the social web to extend brand reach. Before joining Golden Compass, Whinnem was the Communications Manager for CRIX International, a not-for-profit start-up company tasked with overseeing the delivery of an information exchange for the clinical research industry.

Says Whinnem, “Social media can be a powerful tool for creating and enabling social change, which is at the heart of the foundation’s work. This role affords me a tremendous opportunity to contribute my knowledge to and extend the dialogue between CT Health and its audiences.”

About the Connecticut Health Foundation
The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) is the state’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving lives by changing health systems.  Since it was established in July 1999, the foundation has supported innovative grant-making, public health policy research, technical assistance and convening to achieve its mission – to improve the health of the people of Connecticut.

Over the past 11 years, CT Health has awarded 556 grants totaling over $43.7 million in 45 cities and towns throughout the state in three priority areas:

  • Improving access to children’s mental health services
  • Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities
  • Expanding access to and use of children’s oral health services

For more information about the foundation, please visit www.cthealth.org or contact Communications Officer Maryland Grier at Maryland@cthealth.org or 860.724.1580, ext. 21.