FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Media Contact: Suzanne Beranek
Jan. 27, 2012		Office: 303.953.3668

 
Colorado Health Foundation names two to Board of Directors

DENVER — The Colorado Health Foundation added two new members to its Board of Directors, effective Jan. 10. Joining the Board:

• Russ Dispense, president of King Soopers/City Market — Dispense is president of The Kroger Co's King Sooper's division, based in Denver. He oversees 143 King Soopers and City Market stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Combined, these stores employ more than 19,000 employees. Dispense began his supermarket career when he joined King Soopers in 1965 as a courtesy clerk. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Western State College of Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Southern California's food industry program. In addition to the Foundation's Board, he serves on the board of directors for the Western Association of Food Chains, Children's Hospital Colorado and the Mountain States Employers Council.
• Virginia "Ginger" Maloney, Ph.D., director, Marsico Institute — Maloney leads the University of Denver's Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy, a research and social policy institute dedicated to improving learning environments and outcomes for children from birth to age 8. Her interests include education reform, early childhood education, and education policy on the local, state and national levels. She received her bachelor's degree from Yale University as a member of its first graduating class to include women. Later, she earned a master's degree in education and human development and a Ph.D. in public administration from George Washington University. Previously, she served as the dean of DU's Morgridge College of Education and prior to that, executive director of the Sturm Family Foundation.

"Russ and Ginger bring to the Board a depth of leadership representing two sectors that are instrumental to advancing the work of the Foundation — business and education," said Anne Warhover, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation. "Russ provides valuable insights to expanding access to healthy and affordable foods, which are at the heart of healthy communities in Colorado. Ginger's understanding of the link between school health care services, food and nutrition education, physical activity and academic achievement also will contribute significantly to our work. Together, with our talented incumbent Board members, they offer the knowledge and commitment needed to make wise investment decisions and help us achieve the goal of making Colorado the healthiest state in the nation."

About the Colorado Health Foundation
The Colorado Health Foundation works to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation by increasing the number of Coloradans with health insurance; ensuring they have access to quality, coordinated care; and encouraging healthy living. The Foundation invests in the community through grants and initiatives to health-related nonprofits that focus on these goals, as well as operating medical education programs to increase the health care workforce.