The Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education (FAHE) was incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in 1992 by past presidents and past executive directors of the American Association for Health Education. The first mission of the foundation was to “support the mission and programs of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE).” The founding board of the Foundation included Richard Papenfuss, Ann E. Nolte, Peter Cortese, Robert R. Blackburn, William Kane, and Becky Smith. During later years, Pat Buckner also served on the board. The first president of the foundation was Richard Papenfuss, and subsequent presidents were Peter Cortese, Robert Blackburn, and the current president, John A. Bonaguro.

At the time that FAHE was incorporated, AAHE was a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). In the years 2012–2013, AAHPERD discontinued doing business in the name of AAHE and AAHPERD, and the organizational structure for AAHE and AAHPERD no longer exists. Those changes prompted a change in the mission of FAHE and an expansion of collaborations with a variety of other nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

The first and primary long-term collaboration between FAHE and AAHE was the development and marketing of an online system to deliver graduate and undergraduate courses through university partnerships. The name of that program is HEPNetwork, which stands for the Health Education and Promotion Network. The program continues to function today with several partnerships. The HEPNetwork administers professionally developed online Health Education courses that various universities can offer to their students under contract with FAHE.

During the 2000s, AAHE/AAHPERD was the recipient of estate funds that established the Marion Pollock Fellowship and the Delbert Oberteuffer Scholarship. These funds and the program responsibility for the awards was subsequently transferred with the permission of the estate to the Foundation. FAHE now presents these annual awards to outstanding graduate students in collaboration with the Society for Public Health Education. In 2015, FAHE is adding the Ann E. Nolte writing award to recognize documents that have been outstanding contributions to the field of Health Education and Promotion history, philosophy, or future.

In 2012, AAHPERD transferred the copyright for the International Electronic Journal of Health Education (IEJHE) to the foundation. Since that time, the foundation has changed the name of the journal to the Global Journal of Health Education and Promotion (GJHEP) and established a publishing partnership with Sagamore Publishing, LLC, of Urbana, Illinois. In addition to the Global Journal of Health Education and Promotion, the foundation and Sagamore Publishing collaborated on the development of a new journal entitled the Journal of Health Education Teaching Techniques (JHETT). Both journals continue as peer-reviewed publications serving the health education and health promotion professions both in North America and around the globe.
As FAHE continues in its development and evolution, the leadership continues to expand its programs and vision for the future advancement of health education and health promotion. It is FAHE’s sincere hope that members of the profession around the world will join in the mission of advancing the quality of life for individuals and communities through health education and promotion. FAHE welcomes new partnerships with groups and individuals. Please contact the foundation to make a difference with your participation.