NEW YORK, November 7, 2024 – The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (“Helmsley”) announced Melissa Crutchfield has been hired as the Program Director for its Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa (VCSSA) program. Crutchfield joined the Trust on November 4, 2024.
Crutchfield brings over 20 years of experience in global grantmaking, creating and scaling strategic programs, and establishing partnerships across issues of humanitarian relief, maternal and child health, and community development in Sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide. She has worked with various institutional partners throughout her career, including UNICEF, the UN Foundation, the Global Fund, USAID, the Gates Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Episcopal Health Foundation, Against Malaria Foundation, and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.
Melissa Crutchfield
“Melissa brings a depth of experience to the role of Program Director for our work in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Walter Panzirer, Trustee at the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “At Helmsley, we have a long-standing commitment to improving healthcare for mothers and children, increasing access to clean water, fostering agricultural development, and boosting education and economic growth in the region. Melissa’s depth of experience will elevate the program, building resilience among local communities and helping them thrive.”
Established in 2014, the VCSSA Program at Helmsley funds holistic programs to help ensure the well-being of children and families in remote communities in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia. The program focuses on increasing access to quality healthcare to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, fighting neglected tropical diseases, and strengthening healthcare ecosystems. In addition, the program aims to build rural infrastructure, including water and sanitation, and strengthen economic development. The program is based at Helmsley’s New York office.
As program director, Crutchfield will lead program efforts to source, design, execute, and evaluate grant projects and related program activities. Since the program began in 2014, it has provided more than $474 million in funding to organizations working in the region.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen the impact of the Helmsley Charitable Trust and how their focus on results has made a difference in building better futures for communities in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Crutchfield. “I look forward to being part of this forward-thinking organization, with a team that can take the calculated risks and support the innovations needed to build resilience and help the program continue to make a difference.
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About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.
Erin Callanan, 646-618-3515, ecallanan@helmsleytrust.org