United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Names New CEO

August 26, 2008 – Portland, Oregon – The Board of Directors of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette (UWCW) has selected Marc Levy as its new President and CEO, following a six-month nationwide search.   Levy is an innovative community leader, with 23 years as a United Way executive and has a proven track record for success and an extensive background in nonprofit management, resource development and community partnerships.

“The UWCW board is very pleased with the unanimous decision of the search committee. We have picked the right person at the right time based on Marc’s demonstrated ability to build relationships, his proven leadership, creativity, and ability to deal with tough issues like diversity and inclusion,” said Tina Foster, United Way board chair, who is a retail banking consultant at US Bank.  

Foster led the search committee that involved more than 40 staff, volunteers and community leaders and looked at a nationwide pool of exemplary candidates. “The board and volunteers are confident that the community will embrace Marc’s leadership, and that he will be successful in positioning United Way for future growth with continued donor and community support.”

Levy will join the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette in mid-October, and will be officially presented to the local community at United Way’s Community Partners Breakfast on September 18.  The event is open to the public.

Most recently, Levy served as Chief Executive Officer at United Way of the Greater Dayton Area in Ohio where he was known for his strong leadership, relationship building, re-energizing of the community campaign, and diversification of revenue sources. Over the past six years, Levy has repositioned the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area at a time of great economic structural shifts in the community greatly increasing public trust and stabilizing the campaign.

For his success in building and strengthening coalitions among diverse groups -- community partners, labor leaders, nonprofits, and business and civic leaders -- Levy was named among the top three influential “Leaders in Philanthropy” by the Dayton Business Journal.  He is well-respected for developing community initiatives that addressed critical community problems.

Levy currently chairs the United Way of America Inclusion Council for the 1,300-member United Way system, as well as the NAACP Freedom Fund Committee. He won the United Way National Diversity Award in 2002 and Best Practice in Diversity award in 2000 from United Way of America, as well as the 1997 AFL-CIO Community Services Model Cities Award.

From 1994 to 2002, Levy was President and Chief Executive Officer at United Way of Allen County in Fort Wayne, Ind. He is credited for five consecutive years of growth in total campaign revenues, leadership giving, and participation rates. Prior, Levy served as Executive Director of the United Way of Siouxland in Sioux City, Iowa from 1989 to 1994.

Levy holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon’s School of Community Services and Public Affairs, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland. Before starting his career in nonprofit leadership, he worked as an assistant professor at the University of Oregon, and held positions in the State of Oregon Mental Health Department.

About United Way of Columbia-Willamette

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is working to advance the common good in the four-county Portland/Vancouver area by focusing on the basics we all need for success:  education, income, and health.  We all win when children succeed in school, families are financially stable and independent, and people have good health.  Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.  By working together we can create opportunities for a better life and create a stronger community.  That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.