The Coalition for Health Funding Staff Gives Thanks

by Noah Hammes, CHF Staff

As turkey day fast approaches, and the CHF team prepares to overindulge on mashed potatoes and answer political questions from in-laws, we wanted to take a moment to share some things we’re thankful for this year.

CHF staff member Alyssa Afram is thankful for her family and friends and all the time she was able to spend with them in 2022. Alyssa is also grateful for her team both at CRD and CHF, who have provided her with opportunities to grow and learn in the health policy and public health policy spaces. Finally, Alyssa is thankful for another great year living in Washington DC and exploring everything the city has to offer, especially in terms of cute dinner spots.

CHF staff member Noah Hammes is thankful for the opportunity to work with CHF and continue to build a stronger knowledge base about crucial federal health care issues and policy development. Noah is also thankful for the incredible teams at both CRD and CHF, especially his fellow policy associate and “office bestie” Alyssa, who puts up with his incessant chatting and awful dad jokes. Noah is thankful for the amazing CHF members, who make this coalition the effective and efficient source for public health advocacy that it is. Above all else, Noah is grateful for his friends and family, who have been constantly supportive and wonderful in every way…and also put up with his incessant chatting and awful dad jokes.

CHF staff member Katina Pierce is thankful for gratitude, as it helps us to see what is there, instead of what isn’t. Katina is also thankful for mornings, which are confirmation of a new day given to us!

The Coalition’s executive director Erin Morton is thankful for our coalition members, who care about the work they do, and the people they represent—without them we would not have a successful coalition. Erin is also grateful for the coalition’s Board of Directors and executive committee who care deeply about the success of the coalition and give their time as volunteers to bring vision to this organization. Erin is grateful for this coalition’s staff, whose creativity, attention to detail, and superb taste in Member Update GIFs drive what this coalition relies on. Erin also wants to give thanks for the opportunity (and right) to bring our ideas and demands before our federal democracy. Making our voices heard in Washington is what our organizations do, but we can never take that for granted. Erin is thankful for the “CHF Family” who are there for each other in times of need and lift one another up when things get tough. CHF is more than just a group of colleagues, it’s a team of collaborators and friends. Finally, Erin is so thankful for her own family, her husband and her amazing four-year-old daughter, who keep her going when work gets crazy.

Last but certainly not least, CHF’s deputy director Jonathan Daniels is thankful for the opportunity to work with this incredible coalition, his CRD and CHF teammates, and of course the wild benefits of food delivery services. Above all else, Jonathan is thankful for his newborn son Gavin Tripp Daniels, who Jonathan and his wife Madison welcomed into the world last week! From all of us here at CHF, a huge congratulations to Jonathan and his family, and a huge thank you to all our amazing CHF members, now let’s go eat some green bean casserole…

Jonathan and his son Gavin hanging out