| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/2/2009 |
Contact: Mary Anne Feeley 610-429-9400 maryanne.feeley@unitedwaychestercounty.org |
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CHESTER COUNTY LEADERSHIP CONNECTION GRADUATES CLASS OF 2009 Randy Schauer, Esq., Fox Rothschild LLP, and CCLC Advisory Board Chairman, proudly explains, “This class was remarkable – their energy, their enthusiasm, and their engagement was obvious. It’s important to note that it’s not about the number of graduates we have, but the impact they go on to make in Chester County, and I have no doubt this class will make a huge impact.” The CCLC Board Development Program is an 8-month, 11-session leadership development course to enrich the skills of individuals seeking to engage in leadership capacities within non-profit Boards of Directors. Participants undergo an interactive and intensive program with coursework in Non-Profit Fiscal Management, Board Fiduciary Responsibility, Strategic Planning, Board Governance, Diversity, Principle-Centered Leadership as well as Public Policy and Advocacy. Each year, CCLC classes are presented with an interactive team-building project which incorporates key elements of the curriculum and develops their understanding of how active, engaged boards solve problems for nonprofits. The CCLC Class of 2009 conducted an issue analysis on affordable housing in Chester County. They researched the ability of lower- to moderate-income individuals and families to meet their housing needs here, in comparison to national benchmarks. They determined what resources are available through local nonprofits to those struggling to maintain or secure housing and what efforts Chester County businesses have invested in to address the problem. Based on these studies and national models for nonprofit, local government, businesses and collaborations, the class developed a set of recommendations for the Chester County community to engage businesses with nonprofit organizations to more effectively address the affordable housing issue in Chester County. CCLC Class representatives shared their ideas during an intense discussion on May 28, 2009, hosted at Bentley Systems, Inc. including the CCLC Advisory Board, UWCC Board representatives, the Chester County Department of Community Development, and the CEO of Bentley Systems, Inc. Class of 2009 Graduate Tom Anderson (VP, Software Operations, Bentley Systems, Inc.) said "Affordable housing isn’t just about a reasonably priced house – it’s about the quality of living in Chester County and what it costs to make that house a home. We realized there is an acute lack of awareness that there is even a problem in Chester County so we set out researching how businesses could reach out to nonprofits to address the issue. For a business to respond to a community problem they must first value the community in which they do business. We have a final product that will help." Anderson continued, “The things I learned in this program are incredibly relevant even to the business world. Good leadership training transcends industries.” Keynote speaker Chip Huston, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Chester County, addressed the graduates. “In your new role as a nonprofit leader you are going to be faced with lots of challenges. Organizations need active board members. You can no longer sit and do nothing – you have to be educated and know what’s going on in your organization and in your community.” The CCLC Class of 2009 adds 21 individuals from a wide range of industries to the already diverse 185 existing alumni. CCLC was formed in 2000 as a partnership between United Way of Chester County, Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and West Chester University (WCU) to provide committed individuals a comprehensive training for executive leadership of non-profit organizations. The CCLC program, curriculum and class project is managed and facilitated by United Way, with additional general resources provided by the Chamber and WCU. More than 87% of graduates have found board placements at local agencies such as SAFE Harbor, Habitat for Humanity, West Chester Area Day Care Center, American Red Cross of SEPA, Chesco Pops, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, La Comunidad Hispana, Great Valley Nature Center, Crime Victims’ Center and more. For more information about the Chester County Leadership Connection, or to apply to the Class of 2010 which will begin in early Fall 2009, contact Mary Anne Feeley at 610-429-9400 or Maryanne.feeley@unitedwaychestercounty.org. |