About Us | Apricus Principle

ABOUT APRICUS PRINCIPLE

MISSION

To advance the health and well-being of vulnerable youth and women by promoting economic stability, expanding access to healthcare, and providing educational opportunities. We strive to achieve systemic changes that will eliminate barriers to human flourishing.

VALUES

Creating Healthier Tomorrows

While all people are born with immense potential, some more than others possess resources to help them achieve it. We fund organizations and initiatives in Southern New England that address these inequities by expanding access to basic needs and advancing opportunities for personal growth and economic success. We focus primarily on uplifting vulnerable youth and women, with a goal to create healthy environments where all people can thrive. We support efforts to address root causes of inequity and to innovate in creating change. We engage with organizations that advocate for legislation and policy changes supporting these goals, we promote awareness of the work of our grantee partners, and we encourage others to join our efforts.

Launchpads for Young Lives

Our diverse efforts are shaped by the following tenets:

1

Physical and mental health depend on the availability of basic necessities, the alleviation of poverty, and the reduction of inequity.

2

Addressing today’s growing mental and behavioral health crisis is key to ensuring individual and community stability.

3

Education builds economic opportunity and plays a vital role in breaking the cycle of poverty.

4

Improving health and opportunity for women and children has multigenerational impact.

5

Empowering and advancing women is a cornerstone of health and opportunity.

6

Access to a full range of health care is critical for women’s autonomy, health, opportunity and equity.

OUR NAME AND LOGO

Helping People Shine

Apricus is the Latin word for “full of sunlight” and “warmed by the sun”. The sun imagery evokes the optimism, enlightenment, nurturing, and growth to which Apricus Principle aspires.

LEADERSHIP

Mary Beth Gordon is a Boston-based pediatrician who founded Apricus Principle after 15 years of clinical practice. As the Executive Director of Apricus, Mary Beth builds on her long-term commitment to advancing child health and opportunity. In pediatric practice she has gained an appreciation for the social determinants of health; this experience informs her “upstream” approach to funding. Similarly, her familiarity with the deep impact of inaccessible mental and behavioral healthcare — particularly for pediatric and low-income patients — has moved her to make improving access a priority for Apricus. Mary Beth holds degrees from Harvard-Radcliffe (BA Social Studies and Fine Arts), Harvard Medical School (MD), and Harvard School of Public Health (MPH in maternal-child health). She completed her pediatric residency at the Boston Combined Residency Program (Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center) and a fellowship in Health Services Research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dietel and Partners helps philanthropists reshape their experience of giving by showing them what’s possible with their resources and increasing the effectiveness of their charitable dollars. We customize our services based on the needs, experience, and comfort level of our clients.