After careful planning and much anticipation, our Chief Development Officer, Donna Ensley, has accepted the challenge of creating a Legacy Gifts program for MANNA to ensure our continued work towards a hunger-free Western North Carolina. Donna will bring The Space to Erase Hunger capital campaign to a successful completion by the end of August and will then fully engage in her new role as Director of Legacy Gifts.
To allow Donna to focus on that effort, MANNA is pleased to welcome Mary Nesbitt to the position of Chief Development Officer. Mary has extensive experience in fundraising with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and most recently with the American Cancer Society as the Senior Vice President of Field Operations. Mary covered the Western North Carolina region for the Cancer Society for many years, and she spent considerable time on the ground working with volunteer teams throughout our 16 county service area. Her knowledge of local communities and her insights on best practices in all aspects of philanthropy will serve us well in meeting the challenges ahead. Mary started her work with MANNA on April 16.
The Board approved an ambitious strategic plan for 2015 to 2020 that will leverage our work through collaboration with key players in our community to have a greater impact on ending hunger. The physical expansion and upgrades to our facilities that are underway through The Space to Erase Hunger project will allow us to provide not only more food, but more healthy food. And our investment in a Legacy Gifts program will provide additional revenue to build our financial stability. We appreciate your partnership as we work together to unite, educate, and involve our community in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina.
