The Washington Health Foundation (WHF) was established in 1992, with the dream of creating an organization that could inspire new ways to promote health in communities across Washington State. During its early years, WHF primarily invested in creating sustainable health care in rural communities through grants, technical assistance and research, and helped save rural health care in many communities across the state.

While WHF initially focused on these needs and challenges of rural health care, it soon took strides into broader questions of health and the needs of urban communities as well. In 1995, WHF provided funds and technical assistance to Spokane for a Healthy Communities project. Later that year, the Foundation assumed responsibility for a series of local health access programs serving 10,000 people in the greater Seattle area. Through these and other expansions, WHF soon became the largest general purpose not-for-profit foundation working for better health within Washington State.

By the end of the 20th Century, WHF had also secured a reputation as a leading change agent for health care, spearheading and supporting incremental change projects with many health provider and community-based organizations. In doing this, the Foundation developed its largest asset—trusted relations with key leaders, organizations and communities across the entire state.

In 2001, WHF set out to expand its influence by targeting the need for major health system change. Building on its strong relationships, the Foundation decided to add one other crucial ingredient—the involvement of the general public. After exploring traditional public mechanisms such as polling and focus groups, WHF embarked on a groundbreaking effort to identify the health values of the public at the grassroots level.

In 2003, the Foundation held community meetings in every county across the state. These Community Roundtable meetings provided a forum for citizens and key community leaders to explore the values driving our desires on health across this state. Ultimately, these views were translated into nine key health values to provide a basis for action on approaching meaningful change.

In October 2003, leaders from around the state gathered at Qwest Field in Seattle for a Health Leadership Summit to review these values. These leaders signed on to a Resolution prioritizing the health values and committing to working together to achieve these for the people of the state. The participants in the Summit added an additional 10th value: to educate and engage the public about the complex and important health issues facing our state.

In 2004, WHF decided to build on these successes by adopting a bold objective for the state's health. It decided to build a public campaign around an idea that all Washingtonians agree on: that Washington can and should be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Early successes were the recruitment of the support of Washington's entire Congressional Delegation, along with over 40 organizations. The Foundation also built the intellectual framework for a comprehensive Campaign. Building on the public's expressed desire for a complete solution, WHF published a Circle of Health as its core message and outline for action. As expressed by the Circle, there are two dimensions that must be addressed to lead Washington to number one: building Healthy Systems and promoting Healthy Living. The Circle also points directly to those specific issues that must be addressed and ways to measure our success.

WHF's Healthiest State in the Nation Campaign officially kicked off on September 18, 2004, which Governor Gary Locke proclaimed Washington Health Day. That same fall the WHF Board of Trustees officially realigned the vision and focus of our organization toward the goal of Washington becoming the Healthiest State in the Nation. Now, all of WHF's grant, program and policy leadership efforts have been reshaped to achieve this remarkable goal.

In 2005, the Campaign picked up momentum by recruiting a diverse set of over 250 organizations to join the Campaign formally as participating organizations. Major efforts to recruit Washingtonians to join the Campaign began with the first-annual Governor's Community Health Bowl. WHF and Governor Chris Gregoire challenged the people of Washington State to accumulate One Million Miles of health in just five weeks during September and October.

The Health Bowl was a huge success, involving thousands of individuals, 300 organizations and 115 schools. The culmination of the Health Bowl took place at the Capitol Building in Olympia—with more than 300 elementary school students running up the Capitol steps with Governor Gregoire. Together, they reached the One Million Mile goal! Over 17,000 people joined the Campaign by becoming Personal Champions.

Ultimately, a total of 1.2 Million Miles were accumulated during the Health Bowl—and the schools were so energized about logging miles that they requested WHF continue their tracking! In November and December 2005, 55 schools continued logging miles at www.whf.org, competing in the "School Playoffs."

In 2007, the Washington Health Foundation took this successful program national. Click here to learn more about the national campaign.

Today, the Campaign continues to grow, so far involving 35,000 individuals, more than 950 participating organizations and over 350 schools—with more joining every day. If you are not already a Champion, Participating Organization or School involved with the Campaign, we hope you'll consider joining today.

When we all take the small steps we can to make improvements in Healthy Systems and Healthy Living, Washington will become the Healthiest State in the Nation!