Greater Twin Cities United Way Names New President and CEO
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Greater Twin Cities United Way announced today that Sarah Caruso has been named president and chief executive officer. Caruso, who is president of Minnesota Children’s Museum, will succeed Lauren Segal, who announced in February her decision to leave the organization before the end of 2009.
“We looked for a leader who could build on the momentum that United Way’s Agenda for Lasting Change has created over the last few years under Lauren’s dedicated and capable direction,” said Jon Campbell, CEO of Wells Fargo Bank’s Minnesota Region and chair of Greater Twin Cities United Way’s board of directors. “A national search attracted an exceptional and diverse slate of candidates from the Twin Cities and beyond. Sarah stood out with a uniquely impressive blend of experience in nonÂprofit leadership, fundraising, donor and volunteer engagement, public policy, and operational excellence.”
Greater Twin Cities United Way is a leader among United Ways across North America, whose primary purpose has been to raise and distribute funds to address a wide range of societal needs. In 2006, Greater Twin Cities United Way made a strategic shift toward addressing the root causes of poverty in order to achieve greater impact for the dollars it raised. The result – the Agenda for Lasting Change – focuses on achieving measurable results against a set of ten povertyÂreducing goals. The United Way now funds social service agencies that can demonstrate impact against those goals, and it has experimented successfully with new approaches to achieve those results more efficiently and effectively.
Caruso, a St. Paul native, is a graduate of Smith College and worked as a banker in New York before earning a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University. She joined General Mills in 1986, and was managing new business development in the company’s Foodservice Division in 1999 when she left to start a consulting company. She was recruited to head the Minnesota Children’s Museum in 2004. Under her leadership, the Museum achieved record levels of attendance, membership and volunteer participation? implemented a Diversity and Inclusion plan to reach underserved families? and expanded access to the Museum through free and reduced admission. Caruso also created the Museum’s first endowment and developed a national travel exhibit rental business to increase financial stability.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty last December appointed Caruso to chair the Council on Early Care and Education, an experience that United Way Chair Campbell said will help United Way achieve its goals for early childhood development. Caruso’s current nonÂprofit leadership also includes membership on the boards of Good to Grow!, ARC of the Greater Twin Cities, and the Association of Children’s Museums. She has served as board chair of PACER Center, executive committee member of Children’s Theatre Company, and board member of the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Caruso will continue leading Minnesota Children’s Museum until interim leadership is named, according to Board Chair William Schmoker. Her first official day at Greater Twin Cities United Way is November 30.
Download a high resolution photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unitedwaytc/4014555608/in/setÂ72157621442281609/
About Greater Twin Cities United Way
Greater Twin Cities United Way addresses our community’s most critical issues through the Agenda for Lasting Change – 10 measurable goals to create pathways out of poverty. We partner with business, government and nonprofit organizations to create lasting solutions and carry out our callÂtoÂaction to LIVE UNITED by encouraging everyone to Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Greater Twin Cities United Way is an independent organization serving Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott and western Washington counties. Join the movement. LIVE UNITED. For more information visit www.unitedwaytwincities.org or call (612) 340Â7400.
SOURCE Greater Twin Cities United Way