Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (RMHF) is pleased to announce that Reginald “Reggie” Gordon, Esq., has been appointed President & Chief Executive Officer for the Foundation.
Mr. Gordon was a Trustee on the Board of RMHF from 2012-2023, and has dedicated his career thus far to service, justice, community-building, equity and philanthropy. He brings to RMHF his knowledge from more than 20 years in the human services field and a wealth of experience in working on a full range of initiatives that impact health, poverty mitigation and systems change. His experience and background make him an ideal candidate to execute RMHF’s current Strategic Framework with a focus on health and racial equity.
Reggie joins RMHF’s staff after most recently serving as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Richmond where he managed the City’s Human Services portfolio, including the departments of Social Services, Justice Services and the Office of Community Wealth Building. In his position with the City, Reggie also served as the liaison to the Richmond Henrico Health District and Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. He began his career as an attorney for Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and Senior Associate General Counsel and the national Ethics Officer for the national Red Cross.
Mr. Gordon’s background in and deep commitment to nonprofits and philanthropy is also significant. He served as the first Executive Director of Homeward, Executive Director of William Byrd Community House and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Region of the American Red Cross where he oversaw the organization’s operations across the entire Commonwealth. In addition to RMHF’s Board, he has served on the boards of Leadership Metro Richmond, Richmond Opportunities, Inc. and the Salvation Army, and he is a founding member of the Ujima Legacy Fund.
Says RMHF Board Chair Abraham Segres, “We are thrilled to announce Reggie’s appointment as President & CEO. His experience and vision are aligned with the aspirations of the Board and the direction of our Strategic Framework. I am confident in RMHF’s trajectory and growing impact under his leadership. As a native of Richmond, Reggie’s knowledge of RMHF, his lived experience and his close work with its communities in service of health, poverty reduction and equity, will provide the perspective we need to continue to grow as a foundation and make our vision a reality.” Segres continued, “This was a very competitive process. We conducted a national search and interviewed over 20 qualified applicants, but Reggie stood out. The Board’s decision to appoint him was unanimous.”
Mr. Gordon succeeds Mark Constantine, PhD. who served as RMHF’s President & CEO from 2016 to 2023 and led the Foundation through the unfolding of its equity journey, as well as two new Strategic Frameworks, including the most recent one in 2022.
“I cherish the opportunity to serve the residents of Richmond and this community as the President & CEO of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation,” says Reggie. “Richmond is my home. I understand our local culture and history. Through my active engagement in scores of projects, commissions, initiatives and boards throughout the years I have gained a unique perspective on Richmond’s residents, neighborhoods, nonprofits and local government. While we have made some progress, bold action is needed to solve the socio-economic, health and racial inequities in the region.”
Reggie continues, “The path to transformative change in Richmond can be paved by catalytic philanthropy that supports agents of change. I am honored to have the opportunity to work alongside Trustees and staff to implement our Strategic Framework, to build upon the relationships with local organizations, to steward the investments and to secure new resources for the region by leveraging state and national partnerships. RMHF has established itself as an entity with the commitment to advance health and racial equity in the region, and I stand ready to carry the torch for the Foundation.”
Join us in congratulating and welcoming Reggie. He begins his role as President & CEO on Monday, July 17, 2023. We are excited about the future of RMHF under Reggie’s leadership and look forward to continuing the important work of fostering an equitable and healthy Richmond region.