Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is pleased to announce Mark Constantine, Senior Vice President of Community Investment at the Dogwood Health Trust in North Carolina, as the 2026 recipient of the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health, and Gladys Vega, President and CEO of La Colaborativa in Massachusetts, as the 2026 recipient of the Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy.
“We are pleased to recognize Mark Constantine and Gladys Vega, two individuals who center community in their work, with this year’s GIH awards,” said GIH President and CEO Cara V. James. “Mark has been a mainstay of health philanthropy for many years, and he has served as a tireless advocate for health across the country with a particular focus on the South. Similarly, Gladys has spent more than three decades of her career lifting up and supporting immigrant communities in Massachusetts, work that has become especially challenging in the current moment.”
Dr. Constantine has been with Dogwood Health Trust since 2023, following seven years as President and CEO of Richmond Memorial Health Foundation in Virginia. He leads Dogwood’s community investment team in the visioning, development, and implementation of ambitious program strategies —advancing innovative approaches to collaboration, policy, and investment that promote health equity, support comprehensive rural community development, and enable rapid, community-centered responses to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of all people in Western North Carolina. In selecting Dr. Constantine, this year’s selection committee was particularly impressed with his work ‘out of the spotlight’—both creatively fostering deep connections with local communities and intentionally linking thought leaders with one another to advance the field.
Ms. Vega has been with La Colaborativa since 1990, becoming CEO in 2006 and distinguishing herself as one of Chelsea, Massachusetts’ most trusted and effective community leaders. Today, the impact of her leadership extends well beyond Chelsea, influencing how public health institutions and funders approach community-based care. Ms. Vega has been the central architect of La Colaborativa’s programs, initiatives, and community organizing campaigns—advancing a model of advocacy that is described as both deeply pragmatic and structurally transformative. In selecting Ms. Vega, this year’s selection committee commended the extensive results of her advocacy work, including expanded rights for immigrants, low-income families, tenants, workers, youth, and people of color across the state.
The awards will be presented to Dr. Constantine and Ms. Vega at the 2026 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy in Baltimore, Maryland.
About the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy
First presented by Grantmakers In Health in 1993, the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award recognizes a grantmaker whose work is distinguished by leadership, innovation, achievement, creativity, and boldness.
The award was established in honor of Terrance Keenan and his more than 40 years of service and contributions to the field. By example and instruction, Keenan charged philanthropy with exercising the freedom to invest in leadership and develop new institutions and systems to confront major needs. He encouraged the sector to embrace both the freedom to fail and the freedom to persist. This award is intended to stimulate others to strive toward this same standard of excellence and acknowledge those whose work embodies his spirit of innovation, compassion, and dedication.
About the Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy
First presented by Grantmakers In Health in 2017, the Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy recognizes a nonprofit or public sector champion who embodies a commitment to principled action, leadership to advance social change, and dedication to making progress in policy and practice despite challenging political environments.
The award pays tribute to Andy Hyman, a smart, passionate, and innovative grantmaker committed to social justice. Hyman asked hard questions, expected honest answers, and never shied away from difficult challenges. Those who knew and worked with him were touched by his humility, good humor, and his dedication to social justice. Each year, this award is made possible through the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
About Grantmakers In Health
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping foundations, corporate giving programs, and other philanthropic organizations improve the health of all people. Its mission is to foster communication and collaboration among grantmakers and others and to help strengthen the grantmaking community’s knowledge, skills, and effectiveness. Since its founding in 1982, GIH has developed programming, provided technical assistance, and hosted convenings to help funders learn, connect, and grow.
Contact
Jeff Barrus
Communications Director
Grantmakers In Health
Phone: 202.460.4710
Email: jbarrus@gih.org