United Way of Greater New Haven Names New COO and Vice President for Community Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade

203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

Heather Calabrese, Senior Vice President of United Way of Greater New Haven, will become Chief Operating Officer on July 1. In addition, Jennifer McGrady Heath has joined the organization as Vice President for Community Leadership. The changes are part of United Way’s ongoing effort to improve lives in our community and to focus on successful children and youth, economically vibrant communities and community wellness.

Calabrese joined United Way of Greater New Haven in September 2000 as Director of Marketing and Communications. Prior to joining United Way she served as Director of Corporate Development for the International Festival of Arts and Ideas and Vice President of Community Affairs at the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. Calabrese is active in the local community. Her volunteer activity includes work for Read to Grow, with School Volunteers for New Haven, the New Haven Free Public Library, St. Rita School and Habitat for Humanity.

As COO, Calabrese will be responsible for the daily operations of United Way including the areas of finance, marketing and communications, community leadership and investment and resource development. She is a graduate of Wheelock College and lives in Hamden with her husband, Victor, and her son, Andrew.

Jennifer McGrady Heath joins United Way after four years as a Senior Associate at Holt, Wexler and Farnam, LLP, a planning and management consulting firm in New Haven where her clients included United Way, the William Casper Graustein Memorial Fund, the City of New Haven and the City of Hartford. Heath has also worked as a consultant to United Way’s Success by 6® initiative to improve school readiness and Community Compass which identifies the assets and needs of the region and opportunities for action.

As Vice President for Community Leadership, Heath is responsible for United Way community investments, nonprofit relations, civic engagement and public policy leadership. This new position will enable the United Way to create positive change in three priority areas: Successful Children and Youth; Economically Vibrant Communities; and Community Wellness.
Heath graduated from Davidson College and has a Master in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She and her husband, Ken, live in Hamden where she serves as an elected member of the Board of Education.

About United Way:
United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

For more information about United Way of Greater New Haven’s community leadership and how you can help please visit www.uwgnh.org.


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