The Colorado Health Foundation: Our Story 

Our history is intertwined with the histories of four metro Denver hospitals: St. Luke's (founded in 1881), Swedish Medical Center (founded in 1905), Presbyterian (founded in 1926) and Aurora Presbyterian (founded in 1975). Today, these hospitals are part of Denver's largest nonprofit hospital system, HealthONE, which now includes 13 medical facilities.

1995
The for-profit company, Columbia/HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) based in Nashville, Tenn., forms a 50/50 joint venture with the nonprofit HealthONE hospital system. Columbia/HCA already owns two Denver area hospitals, North Suburban and Aurora Regional, and is in the process of purchasing a third, Rose Hospital.

HealthONE's tax-exempt status is reorganized to include the HealthONE Community Foundation, medical education programs, research, the Johnson Adult Day Program for people living with dementia, and the Mother's Milk Bank, a place to receive or donate human milk.

HealthONE becomes Colorado's largest health care provider.

1996
The Lactation Program, a nonprofit supporting breastfeeding, and the Presbyterian/St. Luke's and Swedish Auxiliaries (which ran volunteers and gift shop staffing at the hospitals) join the HealthONE system.

1999
HealthONE creates a new nonprofit organization, HealthONE Alliance, which encompasses many of its community benefit activities. The nonprofit is committed to improving the health of Coloradans through medical education, medical research, philanthropy and community programs.

2002
Rose Family Medicine Residency joins the HealthONE Alliance.

2006
The HealthONE Alliance changes its name to the Colorado Health Foundation to reflect its work across the state and adopts the goal of making Colorado the healthiest state in the nation.

In addition to operating six graduate medical education (GME) residency programs and three community programs, the Colorado Health Foundation awards $20.4 million in grants to 131 nonprofit organizations.

2007
The Colorado Health Foundation awards $29.6 million in grants to 175 nonprofit organizations, while continuing to operate six GME residency programs and three community programs.