Innovative Initiative: The Silicon Valley Health Corps
Fred Ferrer and the Health Trust is the creator of the Silicon Valley Health Corps, which received an initial 6 year AmeriCorps grant. Over 140 AmeriCorps members conducted direct service, hands-on work at over 10 sites to build multiple community and school gardens and reach thousands of residents with nutrition education. In total, Americorps members donated and sold over 452,638 pounds and 53,164 pounds, respectively, of local produce to low-income families from 2012 to 2015. That is the equivalent of 13 tractor trailer loads of (healthy, organically grown) food!
Frederick J. Ferrer, a nationally recognized expert in child development and nonprofit leadership strategies and an active community leader in Silicon Valley for more than 30 years, was named Chief Executive Officer of The Health Trust in November, 2007.
Prior to joining The Health Trust, Ferrer headed his own national consulting firm, Manzanita Solutions, and previously served as Executive Director of Estrella Family Services in San Jose for 19 years, His expertise in child development and family support was put to good use in his volunteer positions as past chair and commissioner of the FIRST 5 Commission of Santa Clara County and as a current board member of Rocketship Charter Elementary Schools.
Ferrer’s community involvement has also spanned a wide range, including American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley where he is a member of Class XI and a former member of the Board. He was honored with the coveted John Gardner Leadership Award from ALF, PACT’S Community Builder Award, Gardner Health Center’s Silent Heroes in Health Care Award, Santa Clara County Human Relations Award and the Kindred Spirit Award from the Children’s Discovery Museum. He served on the board of United Way Silicon Valley and is a community advisor to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Ferrer holds a B.S. degree from Santa Clara University, an M.S. from San Jose State University and an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Santa Clara University. He is also a graduate of the Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations and Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management Program at Harvard University. He was on the adjunct faculty at Santa Clara University’s Graduate School of Education for 11 years. He has been on the adjunct faculty at De Anza College for over 20 years. Ferrer is also an Aspen Institute Fellow, having completed the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship program.