Atkinson Charitable Foundation Announces New Executive Director

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - The Atkinson Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Colette Murphy as its new Executive Director.

Colette brings to the position a breadth and depth of engagement with the social and economic justice issues that are central to the mission of the Foundation. Her 20-year career in the civil society sector began in refugee resettlement with COSTI Immigrant Services. She then moved to the United Way Toronto, where she held a number of leadership positions.

She comes to the Foundation from the Metcalf Foundation, where she led the Inclusive Local Economies Program. This work focused on enhancing economic opportunities and wealth generation for low-income people in the City of Toronto, and strengthening the effectiveness of individuals, organizations and networks engaged in this work. In her role she supported a range of community-based and policy level initiatives targeting such varied issues as income security, the working poor, and building resilient neighbourhood economies.

Through her work at the Metcalf Foundation, Colette has had a valuable and productive relationship with the Atkinson Foundation as a partner and collaborator. She has played an important role in building partnerships and relationships focused on social and economic justice issues across sectors, disciplines and communities. Colette's considerable capacity as a strategic thinker, and her disciplined approach to program design and implementation perfectly suits the objectives and needs of the Foundation.

"The Atkinson Foundation was drawn to Colette Murphy in its search for an Executive Director by the unusual combination of passion, strategic vision and discipline that she brings to everything she does, and by her demonstrated ability to play a leadership role in Toronto's social and economic justice community. Her arrival at the Foundation in December is eagerly anticipated," said Hugh Mackenzie, the Foundation's Chair.

The Foundation looks forward to working with Colette to take her life's work forward as its Executive Director.

Christine Avery Nuñez, who has been serving as the Foundation's Acting Executive Director, will be returning to her role as Managing Director. Christine has made an invaluable contribution over her 16 year career at the Foundation and most importantly over the past few months. Under Christine's interim leadership, the Foundation has developed and implemented new communication tools and put in place a short term and long term strategic budget planning process.

The Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that was established in 1942 by Joseph E. Atkinson, the long-time editor and publisher of the Toronto Star. The Foundation that operates in his name is dedicated to the alleviation of poverty and the support of initiatives that promote social and economic justice in Canada in accordance with the Atkinson Principles, articulated by Joseph Atkinson through his long and distinguished career in journalism.

SOURCE: Atkinson Charitable Foundation

Hugh Mackenzie, Chair, Atkinson Charitable Foundation, 416-884-5378
Colette Murphy, Executive Director, Atkinson Charitable Foundation