About the Foundation

HFHF CLIPS.00 24 35 11.Still024 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation
Sequence 07.00 00 11 23.Still001 1 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation

The Foundation’s Purpose

The Foundation exists to support the inspiring work of Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem, which is located just 1,500 steps from the birthplace of Christ. This Catholic teaching hospital is a state-of-the-art maternity and neonatal critical care center serving women, infants, and children throughout the Holy Land.

The Hospital stands as a beacon of hope for poor and at-risk families in the Bethlehem region, nearby desert villages, and refugee camps. The Hospital and its Mobile Clinic provide quality medical care to all, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or ability to pay.

No one is ever turned away.

Our Mission

With a mission to deliver life, peace, and hope in the Holy Land, the Foundation, founded in 1997, has supported the delivery of essential medical care to families throughout the Holy Land. As a primary work of the Order of Malta — the world’s oldest Christian charity — the Foundation serves to promote its Catholic values of preserving life, fostering peace, and bringing hope to those without a voice.

The Foundation’s impact continues to grow with each passing year. Since the Foundation’s inception, over 100,000 infants have been born at the Holy Family Hospital, and thousands more have been touched by its lifesaving care.

Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation supports 58% of the Hospital’s annual fundraising budget and 100% of its capital expenditure budget.

The Foundation raises $2M annually to support the work of the Hospital. It is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. View our impact page here.

Board of Directors

Foundation President
Ambassador Michèle B. Bowe, GCM

Chairman of the Board
Patrick D. Powers, KM

Vice Chairman of the Board
Michael J. Heck, KM

Board Members

Gail T. Berardino, DMOb
Jean L.P. Brunel, KMOb
Hugh M. Dempsey, GCMOb
Marlene B. DeVoto, DM
Gregory J. Granitto, KM
Molly K. Heines, DM

Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout
Nicolle C. McGowan, MD, DM
H.E. Kenneth R. Olsen, Jr, KM
Gregory P. Oussani, KM
Peter-Anthony Pappas, KM

John V. Quinn, MD, KM                    James P. Sarni, KM
Richard C. Stanzel, KM
John G. Sylvia, KM
Philip Tirone, KM

Executive Staff

IMG 9497 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation

Kate Robinson, Foundation Director
[email protected]

Kate Robinson is the Foundation Director for Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation.  Since joining the Foundation in May 2017 she has been responsible for implementing a comprehensive strategic fundraising and communication plan for the organization.

Kate is a graduate of Fordham University with a BA in Political Science.  She has more than twenty years of communication and development experience; her work with Holy Family Hospital Foundation, Feeding America, Kakenya Center for Excellence and Girl Neighborhood Power reflects her commitment to helping women, children and families around the globe whose voices are too often unheard.

Kate lives in Maryland with her husband Jim and has three children. She is happiest when sitting at a large dinner table surrounded by family and friends.

IMG 9503 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation

Anna Stephens, Director of Communications and Operations
[email protected]

Anna Stephens is the Director of Communications and Operations at Holy Family Hospital Foundation. She joined the Foundation’s staff in September 2018, following her graduation from the University of Virginia. She oversees marketing, media, and database management.

Whether she is writing from her desk or photographing newborns in Holy Family Hospital’s NICU, Anna’s goal is to share the Hospital’s stories of resilience, hope, and peace with as many people as possible. 

Anna lives in Virginia with her husband. You can often find them cheering on the Washington Nationals.

IMG 9526 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation

Shelley Locke, Development and Database Associate
shelley@hfhfoundation.org

Shelley Locke joined the Holy Family Hospital Foundation staff as a Development and Database Associate in June 2023.

Shelley grew up in Fairfax, Virginia but graduated from the University of Mississippi in May 2020 with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and Business. In college, she was involved in a sorority, the University choir, and the Catholic Campus Ministry.

Shelley loves snuggling her dog Layla, supporting the Ole Miss Rebels, and spending time with loved ones.

 

Headshot photo of Michele Bowe

Meet Our President

Ambassador Michèle B. Bowe, GCM

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Ambassador Michèle B. Bowe lived outside the United States for her early life, including many years in Amman, Jordan. She is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (BSFS) and Georgetown University, Masters of Arab Studies (MAAS). She speaks Arabic, French and Spanish in addition to her native English. After graduation, Michele worked as an Economist, specializing in the Jordan River Valley region. She is married to Jim Bowe, KM and is the mother of five grown children.

She has served in many leadership capacities within the Order of Malta, including as the Hospitaller for the Federal Association and as Regional Hospitaller. She is an immediate past member of Federal Association Board of Directors and a current member of Lourdes Committee. Ambassador Bowe served as a director for the Order of Malta’s Fund for Forgotten People and for Malteser International. In addition, she served on the Board of Catholic Charities- Archdiocese of Washington, the San Miguel School and Jesuit Refugee Services. In October of 2013, Michele was elected to serve as the President of Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation. Ambassador Bowe is one of two Foundation board members who also serve on Holy Family Hospital’s International Board of Directors.

In 2014, Ambassador Bowe was the keynote speaker for the International Strategic Conference in Rhodes for the Order of Malta. Ambassador Bowe is regularly invited as a guest speaker on national and international news programs and on several nationally syndicated radio programs featuring the Order of Malta, Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem, and life in Palestine. She speaks regularly on topics including Christians in the Holy Land, Humanitarian Diplomacy, Vocation to Marriage and topics related to the Order of Malta.

In 2015 she was appointed as the Minister Counsellor to the Representative Office of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Ramallah, helping to diplomatically strengthen ties between the Order of Malta and the Palestinian Authority. In 2017, she was named Ambassador from the Order of Malta to the State of Palestine. Ambassador Bowe is the recipient of several awards including the James Cardinal Hickey Award, The Archdiocese of Washington Manifesting the Kingdom Award, The Star of Bethlehem award, the Pro Merito Melitensi with Crown medal and the Pro Merito Melitensi with Plaque medal.

In her spare time, you will find her in her garden at home, skiing with her family or tending the ancient olive grove of the Order of Malta in Jerusalem.

DSC 0328 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation
9caafff7323dc8a0fdc43600a555ca63 1 1 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation
cea663105a340fa3d88c62441ad063d9 1 1 Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation

Financial Reports

Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation practices thoughtful stewardship of all its financial resources. Just last year, over 1,300 individuals entrusted the Foundation with their charitable gifts in order to provide lifesaving care to at-risk women and children in Bethlehem.

Through the group ruling of the United States Catholic Church and inclusion in the Official Catholic Directory, the Foundation is exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code from taxes on income. The Foundation is audited annually by an outside firm in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

To learn more about Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation’s financial reporting and commitment to transparency, view our financial reports below.

View our Financial Reports

If you would like a copy of our financial records, click the link below.