Every day, the Hertz Community inspires me. You renew my confidence in the future with the impact you’re making. And often, you challenge me with the questions you’re asking. I’m certain that no one asks harder or more important questions than a Hertz fellow. I welcome all of it.
At our annual Hertz Summer Workshop in July, we announced some exciting new initiatives focused on growth: the Make History Campaign, our first-ever fundraising campaign, and a fresh approach to telling stories of impact. The resulting conversations were profoundly moving, exciting and filled with hope.
At the same time, they raised a critical question: As we grow, how do we sustain what makes the Hertz Fellowship unique?
The answer, I believe, is simple — in fact, it’s already codified in our strategic plan. Everything we do must support our fellows and amplify their impact. And these two new initiatives do just that.
1. The Make History Campaign will allow us to expand opportunities for fellows through support and connection.
This ambitious fundraising campaign puts fellows first, which is why it was so meaningful to hear our fellows talk about it. At the workshop, Daniel Slichter, Philip Welkhoff, Ray Sidney, and Jordan Chetty shared why they support the Foundation, why growth matters, and why the Hertz Community is essential in a world where science is under immense pressure.
As is often the case when I am in a room full of Hertz Fellows, I am struck by how their breakthroughs — whether in quantum science, national security, or public health — are not achieved in isolation. They are accelerated by the trust, encouragement, and belief of the Hertz community. The community is a force multiplier, and there is nothing else like it. As we grow, we are committed to expanding and deepening community engagement.
2. The Hertz Foundation is renewing its commitment to telling stories of impact.
This summer, we introduced a new take on storytelling that elevates Hertz Fellows and their work. Why does this matter? At a time when public trust in science is increasingly under threat, it is essential that we make science more accessible and relevant to broader audiences. By translating Fellows’ ideas and innovations into compelling stories, we can help ensure their work is not only seen and understood but also trusted and celebrated beyond the lab and beyond this moment in history.
So yes, we’re growing, and that’s really exciting. But our goal is not to make the organization bigger. It’s to make the future better, by investing strategically in what makes the Hertz Fellowship so exceptional and so impactful: the fellows.
As always, I’m grateful for our conversations and humbled to be on this mission with all of you.
Looking forward,
Wendy Connors
President, Hertz Foundation
