Action Center    Press Release: Generations United Announces New Board Leadership

For Immediate Release, January 28, 2010

Contact: Carol Scott, phone (202) 777-0113, e-mail cscott@gu.org

GENERATIONS UNITED ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP

AAHSA President William L. Minnix, Jr. now chairs GU's Board;
GU thanks outgoing chair John Rother for 12 years of strong leadership

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Generations United, the national nonprofit working to improve the lives of children, youth and older adults through intergenerational programs and policies, today announced new leadership within its Board of Directors.

William L. Minnix, Jr., President of American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), is now board chair. Michael S. Marcus, Program Officer of The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, is secretary. Christine James-Brown, President and CEO of Child Welfare League of America, is treasurer. Matthew E. Melmed, Executive Director of Zero to Three, continues to serve as vice-chair.

Board members voted unanimously to elect the officers at GU's January 21 board meeting. Outgoing board leadership will remain on the board, including former chair John Rother, Executive Vice President of Policy and Strategy at AARP; former secretary MaryLee Allen, Director of Child Welfare and Mental Health at Children's Defense Fund; and former treasurer James Firman, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging.

GU also welcomed new board member Karen Mathis, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

GU is fortunate to have a dynamic Board of Directors whose members hold a clear commitment to improving the lives of children, youth, older adults and families. These members are:

• Shay Bilchik, Director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and Systems Integration at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute of Georgetown University;
• Robert Dugger, Managing Partner of Hanover Management Group, LLC;
• Jatrice Martel Gaiter, Executive Vice President of External Affairs at Volunteers of America;
• Irv Katz, President and CEO of the National Human Services Assembly;
• Lawrence McAndrews, President and CEO of the National Association of Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions;
• Larry Naake, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties;
• Paul N. D. Thornell, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at Citigroup, Inc.; and
• Mary Ann Van Clief, Vice President of The Brookdale Foundation Group.

Advisors to the Board of Directors include:

• Catherine Milton, former Vice President and Executive Director of United States Programs for Save the Children;
• Robert Blancato, President of Matz, Blancato, & Associates; and
• Marc Freedman, President of Civic Ventures.

GU Executive Director Donna Butts thanked the outgoing board leadership for their years of commitment.

"We extend our heartfelt thanks to John Rother for his strong leadership as chair of GU's Board of Directors for the past 12 years," Butts said. "Even before he became board chair, John played a vital role in the formation of this organization. His passion and dedication helped to bring the intergenerational perspective to the national forefront, and his wisdom will continue to support GU in the years to come."

GU has achieved many successes under Rother's leadership, including heightening awareness and support for grandparents raising grandchildren; successful passage and implementation of intergenerational public policies, such as the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008; the creation of grassroots civic engagement initiative Seniors4Kids; and building a national movement towards shared intergenerational sites through research, training and "Best Practices" standards.

GU's dedicated staff also works to uphold GU's fundamental mission. GU welcomes new employees Halina Manno, Grants and Operations Manager; Melissa Ness, Public Policy Coordinator; and Carol Scott, Communications Coordinator.

For more information, contact Carol Scott, Communications Coordinator, at (202) 777-0113 or cscott@gu.org.

Formed in 1986, Generations United is the leading intergenerational membership organization focused solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies. Created by the National Council on Aging, Child Welfare League of America, AARP and Children's Defense Fund, GU now represents more than 100 national, state, and local organizations and individuals representing more than 70 million Americans. GU serves as a resource for educating policymakers and the public about the economic, social, and personal imperatives of intergenerational cooperation.

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