Over the years, I’ve heard from many Fellows that the individual funding as part of the Hertz Fellowship is instrumental—but the Hertz community is catalytic.
I’ve always believed this to be true. And over the last few months, I’ve watched it happen in real time.
In March, we celebrated connection at our Spring Board & Council Dinner in New York, featuring a panel of Hertz Fellows exploring the future of robotics. That same evening, panelist Hertz Fellow Soy Choi—pursuing her Ph.D. while building a startup—was connected to investors, introduced to a founders community, and pointed toward a Foundation initiative designed for exactly the challenges she’s navigating. Those connections weren’t planned, but they weren’t accidental either. They happened because the right people were in the room.
In April, Hertz Fellows Liyam Chitayat and Cheri Ackerman Araromi moderated an “unpanel” of Fellows and other experts for a dynamic exploration of the ideas and discoveries shaping biotech at Next Generation Biotech at the MIT Museum. There, I invited the audience to reflect on the contributions of the late Hertz Fellow David Galas, whose early work in genomics underpins so many other discoveries and developments—including the work being discussed that night. Galas, who later chaired our board, helped us expand how we think about the importance of connection and collaboration.
In early May, our inaugural Hertz Fund Giving Week launched with a generous match from Hertz Fellow Cameron Geddes and quickly exceeded our already high expectations—thanks to donations of all sizes from Fellows at every career stage, alongside friends, parents and supporters.
That month culminated in the 2026 New Hertz Fellows Announcement: 19 exceptional young innovators pursuing bold ideas in astrophysics, quantum chemistry, plant sciences and neuroimmunology—selected entirely by Hertz Fellows and community members volunteering their time and expertise.
Over and over, I’ve watched the Hertz Community show up for the Hertz Community.
Guided by the vision of our founders Fannie and John Hertz, we’ve been investing early in exceptional scientists for nearly 65 years, continually asking how else we might deliver on our mission to not just fund, but empower. This purpose-driven approach has led us to expand our offerings for Fellows throughout their careers, from travel awards and child care stipends to individualized mentoring and career support.
Our community, though, is more than a plan or a program. It’s you. You show up, see the opportunities, connect the dots, and activate each other’s potential. You make the Hertz Community what it is.
This July in Chicago, we’ll reconvene at the annual Hertz Summer Workshop, originally conceived by Hertz Fellow Ray Sidney, who recognized the potential for greater connection among Fellows—and then made it happen. Now in its 18th year, the summer workshop continues to spark innovation, collaborations, and companies. If you have not had a chance to sign up for the Summer Workshop, please feel free to do so by registering here.
As you make plans to join us, I hope you’ll consider: How might we be even more intentional about community building? And how might you play a part?
I can’t wait to connect with you.
Looking forward,
Wendy Connors
President, Hertz Foundation
