Dear NHF Community,
Over the past weeks, our country has been overwhelmed with emotion—shock, grief, horror, rage, and more—amid the news reports and video footage showing harassment of, and violence against Black Americans. At a time when the world is already wearied by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are once again confronted by a crisis that has been a shameful part of our nation’s history. We care deeply about this issue and are prepared to do everything in our power to drive positive change.
The deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, as well as the weaponized racism against Christian Cooper in New York, are only the most recent and visible reminders of how far we, as a society are from eliminating racial injustices and disparities.
NHF rejects and condemns injustice, racism, and harassment in all its forms. We are committed to an inclusive workplace and community where we all can share our authentic selves. To us, inclusion and diversity are not just organizational buzzwords, but personal imperatives. For Black employees and community members who today don’t feel safe to leave their homes, or who live each day with apprehension for their own safety or the safety of their loved ones: We see you. We stand with you. We may never be perfect, but we are going to do better every day.
At NHF, we define diversity and inclusion as part of our inherited mission; to serve those affected by all inheritable bleeding disorders. We are committed to our employees as well as those we serve. To do so, NHF seeks and values those qualities, both visible and invisible, that makes individuals unique. We strive to be a safe place where regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, family status, national origin, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, you are heard, empowered and valued because we truly believe that every person brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us and called on all Americans to fulfill the promise that all of us—of every race, skin tone, language, ability, sexual orientation, gender, religion, background and talent—rely on one another to be allies, to stand up together, and to share strength. And that is the promise and commitment I reaffirm today: to reject violence, discrimination, and harassment, and to create equitable and safe spaces that acknowledge and foster the mental and physical wellness of all of our community.
I will end by letting you know that NHF is here for you, ALL our community members. But today, we are here particularly for our Black American community members. We acknowledge our responsibility to be part of the solution. We are committed to doing our part.
Sincerely,
Leonard A. Valentino, M.D.
