United Way CEO to Start New Career in California

United Way of Allen County President and CEO Jerry Peterson has announced his resignation from his position effective May 1, 2010 in order to pursue a master’s degree in California. Board Chairperson Ron Turpin has put together a committee to search for Peterson’s replacement.

“We are happy and excited for Jerry in this new phase of his life,” said Turpin, “but of course we are sad for the organization. Jerry has been a guiding force for United Way for more than 13 years and we will miss his leadership, dedication and friendship.”
 
“Jerry will leave United Way of Allen County in an excellent position,” continued Turpin. “Through his leadership he has helped to build a vibrant organization and we are well-positioned to grow even stronger in the next few years. We are aggressively looking for a replacement and want to have that person in place before the end of 2010.”
 
Peterson began working for United Way of Allen County in July of 1996. He began as the Director of Agency Relations and Allocations and later became the Chief Operating Officer, Interim CEO, and was then named President and CEO in March of 2006. Peterson intends to attend the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and earn a master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Social Transformation. From there, he plans to combine his passions for spirituality and social activism through writing, teaching, conducting workshops and consulting.
 
“My twenty-year stay in Fort Wayne has provided incredible opportunities to be of service and to grow in my understanding of what it means to Live United as a community. I am proud of United Way’s accomplishments and trust that new leadership will ignite new passion and commitment at all levels of the organization. I am excited about the opportunity to reinvent myself one more time before retirement.”
 
While CEO, Peterson’s accomplishments include completing an organizational strategic plan, completing Goals for the Common Good (a comprehensive plan for investing dollars in the community), launching Learn United (an effort to help all children read at grade level by third grade), introducing the LIVE UNITED messages, and establishing the 2-1-1 Call Center for Northeast Indiana.
 

Indiana 211

Learn United is a community effort to help children succeed in school.

Visit our Learn United page on Facebook and find out about volunteer opportunities in our community.

 

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Goals for the Common Good
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