In August of 1977, Carlsbad Regional Medical Center, a non-profit acute care hospital closed its doors. In the months that followed, CRMC’s Board of Directors liquidated the hospitals assets, resulting in just over $2 million in proceeds.
In 1978, the Board converted the organization into a health foundation. John Mills, the hospital’s administrator, became the Foundation’s first executive director and guided the establishment of the organization that was primarily based on his vision. By 1981, the Board diversified the organization’s mission, changing its name to the Carlsbad Foundation, Inc.
Through a matching program, the Foundation encouraged donors to establish endowment funds that would provide long-term income for charitable needs, including scholarships, in the community. By 1991, the Foundation’s assets reached $5 million.
After John Mills’s retirement in 1985, the Board selected Jim Harrison as its new executive director. He had previously served as the City of Carlsbad’s Public Works Director and a member of the Foundation’s Board. The Foundation continued to grow. Jim would guide the Foundation through some challenging times due to the world financial crisis of 2008.
Recovery would take some time, but the Foundation continued to support local charitable needs. In 2011, the Foundation moved next door on Canyon Street into it’s third (and current) location at 114 S. Canyon, thanks to a generous gift by Ray and Karen Westall. The facility has ample space that allows the Foundation to host other nonprofit organizations who need training/meeting space.
After 19 years of service, Jim Harrison retired in 2014. His last three months overlapped the tenure of Mike Antiporda, who the Board hired to serve as only the third executive director of the organization. Mike had previously worked in communication for Nuclear Waste Partnership and several other companies related to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, over the course of more than 21 years.
The Foundation has continued its charitable mission by meeting needs in the community. In 2015, the organization launched its first website, adding the possibility of online giving. The work of the Foundation can generally be divided into three categories: Awarding grants to charitable organizations, awarding scholarships to students pursuing academic or vocational fields of study or supporting community events.