Helmsley Charitable Trust

06/11/2026

The most innovative healthcare solutions are often born from rural communities. Our grantees Warren Memorial Hospital and Mille Lacs Health System are implementing telehealth in applications that save lives and improve care quality. Swipe to learn more.

06/02/2026

At Helmsley, we support research like the SAPPHIRE study, led by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to advance our understanding of Crohn’s disease, improve medical care, and elevate patient voices.

The SAPPHIRE study is currently enrolling IBD patients who have a history of cancer or are undergoing treatment for cancer. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/40TJOFA

05/28/2026

This is what transformation in rural connectivity looks like.

Fika has had incredible success in eliminating rural isolation across Ethiopia—building 135 bridges that have connected more than 2.6 million rural Ethiopians. Now, with continued support from Helmsley, Fika is positioning Ethiopia for a fully government-owned, sustainable rural access program in addition to building 198 more bridges.

Because when government, philanthropy, and civil society work together to create true systems change, progress is achievable far into the future.

Read more about the latest initiative here: https://bit.ly/43E3oXq

Photo credit: Robb Hohmann

05/26/2026

Stroke recovery doesn’t stop at the hospital—and leaders like Amy Goldman are helping patients rebuild their lives through strong post-acute stroke rehabilitation. Stroke-specific rehab programs include coordinated, guideline-driven care, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.

Because smaller hospitals and skilled nursing facilities like those in rural areas lacked uniform standards for stroke rehabilitation, we partnered with the American Heart Association to level the playing field for rural residents and develop new, uniform standards for post-acute care.

Amy’s team at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Omaha and Lincoln, NE, has strengthened these standardized care practices, including expanded nurse education and early follow-up calls within 24–48 hours after discharge to ensure patients have the equipment, meds, and appointments they need. She also highlights the crucial role of family and caregiver support. At Madonna, families are trained from the start—joining therapies, helping with daily care, and participating in education sessions to prepare for a safe return home.

Amy emphasizes the story of Andrea, a young mom who had a major stroke during the early days of COVID. Despite severe aphasia, mobility challenges, and weeks without seeing her kids, Andrea made extraordinary progress thanks to specialized rehab and a deeply committed family and care team. The birthday celebration her team organized—the first time her kids had seen her in nearly two months—became a turning point in her recovery. Today, she’s walking, talking, and back to being a mom.

Amy’s work shows what’s possible when expert rehab, standardized practices, and strong support networks come together to help stroke survivors reclaim their lives.

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

The decline of local news outlets is a blow to the health and wellbeing of the communities that rely on their reporting. When the public lacks access to information on the issues that affect them most, decision making takes place behind closed doors and without community input.

However, as highlighted by Martha Ramirez in Inside Philanthropy, the philanthropic sector is increasingly supporting local news in rural America.

Helmsley’s support for the Rural Health Desk at KFF Health News has resulted in more than 400 articles, videos, and podcasts informing people of what’s going on in their region when it comes to healthcare — from funding cuts to hospital closures. This work has driven real change for communities. In one instance, a series of KFF reports in Colorado paved the way for a new law barring hospitals from suing patients under the names of debt collectors.

“What I hope is that other philanthropists and organizations see what we’re doing and then harness the power of journalism for their passions as well to help educate people and educate the policymakers of the situation in rural America,” Helmsley Trustee Walter Panzirer told Inside Philanthropy.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/43agJqe

05/19/2026

In the face of a cancer diagnosis, patients deserve a treatment journey that is comfortable, streamlined, and closely supported by family members and loved ones.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii's construction of a new Cancer Center at Moanalua Medical Center marks an important step towards ensuring cancer patients in Hawaii have a treatment environment that meets their needs, where they feel supported and can focus on healing. A $5 million grant from Helmsley will directly support the infusion bays and patient care areas at the heart of the new cancer center.

“Access to high-quality cancer care close to home is critically important, allowing patients to remain near their support systems while undergoing treatment. Thoughtfully designed infusion and care spaces can make a meaningful difference in how patients experience that care, offering comfort, dignity, and connection," said Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley Trustee.

Learn more about the upcoming Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Cancer Center at Moanalua: https://bit.ly/4uhtv25

05/19/2026

Today is World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day. At Helmsley, we are working every day to address unmet needs by investing in research and technologies to improve care and treatment and find a cure. Learn more about our mission and focus areas: https://bit.ly/3PBeOI6

05/18/2026

When a stroke code popped up on her phone, Piper Kmetz, a stroke coordinator for Bozeman Health, never expected to see her own dad’s name. She describes that moment as “so surreal”—going from a normal day with her daughter to realizing her father had experienced a major stroke.

His diagnosis was one of the most serious, a large-vessel occlusion—something Bozeman only sees a handful of times each year.

For Piper it was hard to move between being the well-equipped stroke nurse and a daughter caring for her dad at home. Providing daily care, teaching her family what to do, and trying to manage emotions made that transition incredibly challenging. Staying in “nurse mode,” she says, often felt easier than letting herself feel the full weight of the situation.

Living in rural Montana adds another layer of complexity. Weather, long transport times, and limited access to thrombectomy centers mean hospitals must have tight protocols, fast door-to-needle times, and strong backup plans for transfers. Helmsley’s partnership with the American Heart Association - Montana's Mission: Lifeline Stroke project helps strengthen those systems of care so patients like Piper’s dad get faster, coordinated treatment when every minute counts.

Watch Piper’s full story here: https://bit.ly/4twMIwx

05/15/2026

In philanthropy, innovation is sometimes thought of as investing in new technologies or breakthrough medical procedures. While less visible, however, investments in systems that coordinate people, protocols, and institutions already in place can yield significant and measurable improvements in outcomes.

In her recent article for Grantmakers In Health, Helmsley Rural Healthcare Program Officer Elizabeth Ruen argues that meaningful improvements in patient lives can depend less on new interventions and more on strengthening how existing systems function.

This concept is realized in Helmsley's support for the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline cardiac and stroke programs to transform care across multiple states.

Read Elizabeth's full article to see how philanthropy can catalyze large-scale systems to change and improve patient outcomes: https://bit.ly/3PIDIFS