FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kate Zielsdorf,

Communications and Program Associate

Phone: (484) 356-0940

E-mail: katherine@ccfwg.org

 Michelle Legaspi Sanchez Named as New Executive Director for the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls

The CCFWG Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Legaspi Sanchez as Executive Director effective immediately. Prior to this position, Ms. Sanchez was serving as CCFWG’s Director of Programs. The Board’s action comes with the fullest confidence that Ms. Sanchez will continue to be an excellent steward of CCFWG’s mission and a leader and advocate for women and girls in Chester County.

Ms. Sanchez has several years’ of experience in the Chester County non-profit community. As CCFWG’s Director of Programs, she raised the caliber of the entire organization. She managed all CCFWG’s programming, including grantmaking, advocacy and education efforts. She led the efforts for the publication of the updated Blueprint Report, optimized the Girls Advisory Board curriculum and updated the grants policies to align with CCFWG’s strategic direction of creating positive impact in community-identified priority areas for women and girls.

Ms. Sanchez brings extensive non-profit experience, particular focused on the health of women and children, to the position. Prior to joining CCFWG she was the Director of Evaluation and Reporting at the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County where she oversaw the federally-funded Regional Children’s Health Insurance Enrollment Initiative and the evaluation systems of all programs.

A search committee was tasked by the CCFWG Board to find a new Executive Director. After three months in the search process, Ms. Sanchez was chosen. Board President, Mary Lou Sterge, adds “I have worked with Michelle for a number of years, and I think she is going to be an excellent Executive Director in this ever changing world of philanthropy. The Board is very happy to welcome her to this new position.  Michelle knows Chester County very well and will be a huge asset to our work!”

Ms. Sanchez commented, “CCFWG is a uniquely positioned organization with a mission I truly believe in. I am very fortunate to work with this incredibly committed staff and board to move the organization forward as a bold voice for women and girls.”

Ms. Sanchez has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania.  She is an adjunct professor at West Chester University and Immaculata University. She currently lives in Downingtown with her husband, an attorney at Lamb McErlane in West Chester, and their five daughters.

The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls leads and unites the community through philanthropy and advocacy to ensure that women and girls have resources and opportunities to thrive. For more than 18 years, the Fund has raised awareness about the critical needs of women and girls, and has awarded over $2 million to 65 non-profit organizations. To learn more about the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, visit www.ccfwg.org.

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