Health Foundation of La Porte leader shares vision for organization’s future
When the Health Foundation of La Porte introduced its new senior executive in 2024, it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Health Foundation of La Porte
The nonprofit, independent, private foundation is dedicated to empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well. The foundation’s vision is for the La Porte area to become one of Indiana’s top 10 healthiest communities by 2030. HFL was initially funded in March 2016 from the proceeds of the sale of IU Health La Porte Hospital. Learn more about the organization’s initiatives here: www.hflaporte.org
Now with a year of experience in the role, President and CEO Eric DeWald has settled into the community while maintaining HFL’s mission of investing in the health and well-being of La Porte County residents. Though new to the foundation, he’s no stranger to community impact work.
“I’ve been in this field since 1999,” DeWald said. “My first experience with health conversion foundations was in central Pennsylvania. Over the years, I’ve served as CEO for foundations in Pennsylvania, and more recently, I spent a decade running one in Ohio.”
He replaces Maria Fruth, who was CEO since the foundation’s inception in 2017. The nonprofit was formed with proceeds from the sale of La Porte Hospital to a for-profit health system.
The foundation has invested over $47 million in the community since 2017.
A seamless transition
Starting any new leadership role comes with challenges. However, for DeWald it was a smooth transition thanks to his predecessor and the warm reception from the community.
“I tell people all the time, I’ve never felt more welcome than I have here,” he said. “Maria did an incredible job with transition planning. She stayed on a few days per week for a few months to ensure I understood everything — from internal processes to meeting key community members. It made all the difference.”
Beyond internal support, HFL’s board members and staff played a crucial role in easing his transition. They were not only welcoming but also introduced him to organizations, groups and people of influence in the community.
To further lay the groundwork, DeWald said he made a concerted effort to meet people one-on-one.
“I spent months speaking with staff, board members, grantee partners and community leaders,” he said. “I listened to what they thought of the foundation, what we were doing right, and where we could improve. It was invaluable for shaping our path moving forward.”
Getting to work
One of the major projects DeWald first tackled was leading HFL’s strategic planning process. When Fruth knew she was getting ready to retire, she decided it was time for a new strategic plan. However, she delayed it so her successor could be involved, a move DeWald described as “forward thinking.”
The strategic planning process included heavy community engagement. The feedback gathered helped the foundation pinpoint three focus areas for their funding efforts moving forward:
- Affordable and attainable housing
- Mental health and substance use
- Healthy eating and active living
“These issues are incredibly pressing,” DeWald said. “The board wanted to narrow our focus so we could make a bigger impact. While HFL has historically spread its funding across various grants, this new direction will allow us to really move the needle in these areas.”
However, the foundation remains aware of the importance of other community needs. They still accept applications for smaller grants, up to $25,000, for initiatives that fall outside these categories, DeWald said. This option ensures HFL can remain flexible and responsive to new or urgent needs as they arise.
According to DeWald, it’s important to remain nimble. After all, in his estimation, Fruth’s tenure at HFL was characterized by growth, impactful grantmaking and a deep connection to the community.
One recent change at HFL has helped clarify its role as a change agent. After much discussion, the organization rebranded from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte to its current name. DeWald said foundation leadership elected to remove “healthcare” from the mix to better reflect its mission.
“The name change was important because it allows us to educate people about what we actually do,” he said. “Some people might assume we’re simply funding hospital-related work, but that’s not the case. This shift ensures we’re accurately representing the breadth of our mission.”
Investing in what matters
Looking back on her eight years at the helm, Fruth is confident that HFL fulfilled its mission through the power of partnerships.
She worked alongside nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and businesses to tackle longstanding issues through collaboration. From reducing infant mortality to supporting schools with targeted health initiatives, she said the foundation’s work with various partners demonstrates its investment in the well-being of every La Porte County resident.
For instance, recognizing that health extends well beyond medical concerns, the foundation expanded its focus to include housing. The initiative launched during the last few years of Fruth’s tenure addresses La Porte’s affordable housing needs.
In 2022, HFL joined forces with the La Porte to embark on a new housing initiative to assess current and future housing needs in the city. HFL contracted SB Friedman, a real estate development advisory firm based in Chicago, to conduct an in-depth study and then prepare a detailed housing strategy for the city. The idea is to ensure a stable foundation for employment, health and security within the Region.
“Health is much broader than health care, and housing is considered (a social determinant of) health,” she said.
DeWald was chosen from a field of 150 prospects that were narrowed to six finalists. His experiences were exactly what made him the right choice to lead the recently renamed foundation.
“He is a very creative and energetic leader with a lot of experience,” Fruth said. “I know (HFL) will be very successful with Eric as a leader.” •
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