Valerie McMurtry appointed as new President of the Children's Aid Foundation

TORONTO, Jan. 8, 2014 /CNW/ - The Children's Aid Foundation's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Valerie McMurtry has been appointed as the new President of Children's Aid Foundation, effective January 27, 2014.

"Valerie's leadership comes at a time of great promise for the Children's Aid Foundation," says Joe Canavan, Chairman and Interim CEO of the Children's Aid Foundation. "Over the last year, the Children's Aid Foundation has increased fundraising revenues to $8 million, the most successful year in our history. Valerie's vast knowledge, expertise and passion for supporting disadvantaged youth will be instrumental in continuing to raise vital funds for programs and services that allow all abused and neglected young people in the child welfare system across Canada to believe in their own abilities and achieve success in life."

McMurtry brings to the role a wealth of not-for-profit fundraising leadership and expertise. Throughout her career, she has been closely tied to charities and child welfare, serving as the past president and CEO of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and most recently as CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. During her 10 years as president and CEO, Valerie played a key role in raising $100 million for the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and prior to that was part of the executive team at Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, which successfully raised $250 million for their Best Medicine Campaign II.

The Children's Aid Foundation is a national charitable organization serving Canada's most underprivileged and vulnerable children and young adults. Last year, the Foundation funded over $6 million in life-changing programs and services to address funding gaps in the child welfare system.

Through the generosity of corporate, foundation, and individual donors, the Children's Aid Foundation works with child welfare agencies across Canada to provide funding for programs and services in the areas of prevention, education, enrichment, healing, and recovery. The Foundation has a mission to improve the lives of these vulnerable young people by bridging the gap between what the government is able to provide to stabilize them and what these kids need in order to heal, rebuild their self-esteem, and find the path to a brighter future. 

SOURCE: Children's Aid Foundation

Lisa Lipkin, Lisa Lipkin Communications, Tel: [phone], [email protected]