Directors of the United Way of Summit & Medina have confirmed Annie McFadden as president and CEO of the organization, the nonprofit announced June 27.
McFadden had been interim president and CEO since December 2024.
McFadden is the eighth president and CEO in the nearly 110-year history of the organization, and the first woman to be at the helm.
McFadden joined United Way as chief of Staff, Impact & Communications in August 2022, after working as Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan’s chief of staff, where she was the first woman to hold that title on a permanent basis.
As interim, McFadden maintained vital services, including the 211 line, housing supports, family resource centers and one-on-one financial coaching, McFadden has also been able to pivot on spending and streamline costs, United Way said in a press release.
In April, McFadden acknowledged that the United Way campaign for 2024 fell $3 million short of its $10 million goal. The donations represent 20% of the organization’s budget.
The agency notified groups that there could be a change in allocations in 2025.
McFadden will make each dollar raised stretch further, she said in the release.
The nonprofit has grown a great deal in programming and staff since 2018, she said.
“People need help in our community, and they need it now, and we are ideally positioned to meet those needs,” said McFadden. “Since the day I took over, I’ve been engaged with our board and staff, community leaders, partner agencies, donors and community members to assure we are not making these tough but necessary decisions in a vacuum, nor are we doing them alone.”
During the interim period, McFadden led United Way “with clarity, compassion and perseverance,” said Whitt Butler, EY Americas Consulting vice chair and United Way of Summit & Medina board chair.
The community can hear more from United Way staff and board leadership at the organization’supcoming Report to the Community at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron. Tickets and sponsorships are now available by going to uwsummitmedina.org or calling 330-643-5530.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Annie McFadden named United Way of Summit & Medina’s president and CEO
Reporting by Alisson Toro-Lagos, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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