The de Beaumont Foundation was created in 1998 by Pierre S. (Pete) de Beaumont, the founder of the Brookstone Company, with the broad purpose to relieve human suffering. Mr. de Beaumont wanted the Foundation to have a broad mandate and supported a concentration on public health, where he thought his resources could make the biggest impact. He gave the Board of Directors ultimate discretion in the choice of funding priorities.
Mr. de Beaumont was born and raised in New York City. After graduating from Harvard University in 1938, he began a successful career as a mechanical engineer with Packard Motor Car Co. (where he was granted several patents) and General Motors. During World War II, he served as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Following the war, he continued his engineering career at Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company and Bostic. In 1965, Mr. de Beaumont and his wife, Mary Deland (Robbins), founded the Brookstone Company. Initially a mail order catalogue, it grew to become a successful chain of retail stores before they retired in 1980 and sold the company to the Quaker Oats Company.
The Foundation was fully funded upon Mr. de Beaumont’s death in December 2010.
Pierre "Pete" S. de Beaumont
1998Pierre S. "Pete" de Beaumont incorporates an independent, private foundation. Bylaws are adopted, naming the following directors: Mr. de Beaumont; James Sprague, MD; Murray Brennan, MD; and Leroy Parker, MD.
1999
1999The de Beaumont Foundation is awarded 501(c)(3) status as a tax-exempt private foundation.
2001
2001The de Beaumont Foundation awards its first grant to the Molecular Immunology Foundation to support cancer vaccine research.
2005
2005Dr. James Sprague is elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board bestows the honorary title of Chairman-Emeritus to Pierre S. de Beaumont.
2007
2007Dr. James Sprague becomes the full-time CEO, and the de Beaumont Foundation opens a small office in Bethesda, Md.
2009
2009The de Beaumont Foundation funds the first face-to-face meeting for the Big Cities Health Coalition, convening health directors of the largest cities in the United States.
2010
2010Mr. de Beaumont dies and leaves his estate to the Foundation.
2013
2013de Beaumont and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials convene the National Consortium for Public Health Workforce Development, which identifies the top strategic skills needed in the governmental public health workforce and recommends that a nationally representative needs assessment be conducted. This assessment becomes the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS).
2014
2014PH WINS is fielded for the first time and reveals challenges and opportunities in recruitment, retention, and professional development in state and local health agencies. PH WINS is fielded again in 2017 and 2021. The Foundation launches The Practical Playbook to improve partnerships between public health and primary care.
2015
2015The BUILD Health Challenge announces its first awardees. Edward L. Hunter is hired as President and CEO, and Dr. Sprague continues his service as Chair of the Board of Directors.
2017
2017The de Beaumont Foundation launches CityHealth, an initiative to promote policies that are proven to improve health and rates 40 cities on their adoption of the policies. The Foundation and the Aspen Institute launch Public Health Reaching Across Sectors (PHRASES) to create tools to improve communication about public health.
2018
2018After serving as Chief Program and Strategy Officer for six years, Dr. Brian Castrucci, DrPH, is named President and CEO. Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated health system, joins forces with the de Beaumont Foundation as a partner in CityHealth.
2019
2019de Beaumont announces its inaugural 40 Under 40 in Public Health. The second cohort is announced in 2021.
2020
2020In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation produces the documentary “Outbreak: The First Response” in partnership with Soledad O’Brien and forms the Public Health Communications Collaborative with the CDC Foundation, Trust for America’s Health, and other public health leaders.
2020
2020Building Expertise in Administration & Management (BEAM) certificate program launched together with University of Miami. 10 Essential Public Health Services published in partnership with Public Health National Center for Innovations.
2021
2021Launches Healing Through Policy in partnership with the American Public Health Association and the National Collaborative for Health Equity.