Harriet Joyce Foundation

Harriet Joyce Foundation

United for
the future of
our children.

Year 1 Funding Committed:

$5 Million

❝The future is already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed❞

–William Gibson

William Gibson’s quote speaks to the idea that technological advancements and innovations that could be considered ‘futuristic’ are, in fact, already present. However, they are not accessible to everyone equally.

The quote is a reminder that while we may make progress, we must also consider how that progress is shared among all people to ensure a more equitable future. It’s a call to action for policymakers, innovators, and society at large to work towards distributing the fruits of innovation more fairly across the global population.

Building on William Gibson’s profound observation, we envision a future where the benefits of innovation are shared by all. Our mission is to make advanced healthcare and environmental safety universal, so the future, indeed, belongs to everyone, not just a privileged few. This is how we can truly say that the future has arrived for everyone.

- Jeffrey Himmel.
Founder.

The Harriet Joyce Foundation seeks to address these
critical public health challenges in Ecuador:

Newborn
Health

Nutrition and Environmental
Health

Our Science,
Medicine &
Technology
Advisors

Strategic 

Collaborators

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Newborn Health

Currently, Ecuador screens for only a handful of disorders at birth. Bringing scientific know-how and technology could assist in expanding this program to include whole exome sequencing, potentially identifying over 500 treatable or manageable disorders. 

This would be a significant leap from the current four, offering a brighter future for newborns and their families.

Nutrition and Environmental Health

What is it that´s preventing our children from thriving? Beyond the best nutritional interventions, what other factors are impeding their growth? Our vision, our initiative, is to identify the underlying health issues, from genetic risk factors to unknown exposures, from environmental toxins to heavy metals, the hidden threat of aflatoxins, bacteria associated with poor growth, sickle cell disease, ova and parasites, micro and macro-nutrient deficiencies, and environmental enteropathies—a condition linked to chronic exposure to unsanitary environments, which impairs nutrient absorption and contributes to stunted growth and poor development. 

We will explore how these environmental factors, combined with nutritional deficiencies, create a vicious cycle that hampers children’s development and makes them more vulnerable to disease. We will then provide the necessary know-how and support to mitigate these risks, offering healthcare interventions to ensure a safer environment for the Ecuadorian people.