Welborn Baptist Foundation - Foundation News

Executive Director Search: Welborn Baptist Foundation, Inc. is seeking an Executive Director/CEO. Based in Evansville, Indiana, Welborn supports not-for-profit organizations in 14 counties with the primary focus on Evansville/Vanderburgh County, that address key identified community issues. Currently, total assets under management are approximately $117 million and $4 million in grants are distributed annually. Since the inception of this healthcare conversion foundation in 1999, Welborn has focused on changing behaviors that lead to identifiable risk factors in the community. Currently the Foundation funds in the areas of: School Based Health, Early Childhood Development, Healthy Adolescent Development, Community Health Status, Faith Based Programs, and General Opportunity.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for recommending policies and procedures to enable the Foundation to carry out its vision, mission, and value statements. We seek a proven leader whose passion for service to others is demonstrated by a career-long dedication to improving the human condition. This person must exhibit success in collaborating with key stakeholders in the community and in convening people with common interests and concerns such that relevant aspirations and goals are pursued in a productive manner.

Career experience in a top leadership position in a foundation, healthcare, nonprofit, business, government or civic organization is sought in addition to serving in voluntary leadership capacities on local, regional or national nonprofit or corporate governing boards. Leading and empowering a highly competent staff group are needed skills as well. An ability to communicate exceptionally well, in oral and written form, is a necessity in order to succeed in this position.

Successful candidates will personify the Foundation’s commitment to healthy lifestyles as well as to Christian values and beliefs. Grantmaking experience is preferred. A master’s level degree preferably in the fields of health or education is required. For information please contact Rhyan M. Zweifler, Principal, Kittleman & Associates, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60606 Email: wbf-ed@kittleman.net.

Community Health Survey - From its beginning, Welborn Baptist Foundation made a commitment to base its work on measurable indicators to benchmark our efforts at addressing community problems. The search for supporting data at the local level led to the discovery that little local data is available for many of the community’s main concerns.

Therefore, as part of its commitment, the Foundation is investing in obtaining local, county-level data for the area it serves.

What: First time ever community health survey that is being done to provide reliable LOCAL information about various health risks and preventive health measures such as chronic diseases, exercise and eating, tobacco use, etc.

Based on national survey that is done through state health departments that gives us state and national data, but not local data.

How: Random telephone survey of adults over age 18 in 5 of the 14 counties served by the Foundation: Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer counties in Indiana, Henderson County, KY and Saline County, IL.

Important to Know: Survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. It is ANONYMOUS. The interviewers will not ask your name or address, and you need not answer any question that you do not want to answer. If your telephone number is selected, the number on your caller id will be associated with Purdue University and will begin with area code 765.

Special efforts are being made to survey extra persons in the minority communities in Vanderburgh County.

When: Beginning March 1, 2008 and continuing until mid-April, 2008.

Why: The information will help organizations that work to improve the health status of our community better understand the condition of our area’s health.

New Directors Announced
Evansville, Indiana - Welborn Baptist Foundation, Inc. has announced that Stephen G. Jennings, Ellis S. Redd and Daniel L. Schenk have been appointed to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Jennings began his tenure as the 22nd president of the University of Evansville on June 1, 2001. He has served as president of three other institutions since 1983: Oklahoma City University, Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. He holds a Ph.D. in counseling and human development from the University of Georgia, as well as a diploma from Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management. Dr. Jennings received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Trinity University and a Master of Science degree in personnel counseling from Miami University. Dr. Jennings is a member of the board of directors of Koch Enterprises Inc., Old National Evansville Metro Community Bank–South District, Ascension Health Systems (St. Mary's Hospital), Economic Development Coalition of Southwestern Indiana, Signature Learning Center, Evansville Rotary Club, and WNIN Public Broadcasting. In addition, he is a member of the Evansville Mayor’s Education Roundtable and the board of governors of the Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series.

Dr. Jennings and his wife Sally are the parents of two and the grandparents of six. They reside in Evansville.

Mr. Redd is Vice President Human Resources and Administration at Vectren Corporation. He holds an M.B.A. in manufacturing management from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina A&T. Mr. Redd began his career with the ALCOA Warrick Operations in 1987 before serving is several positions with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Mead Johnson Nutritionals prior to his move to Vectren Corporation in 2001. Mr. Redd also serves as a member of the Board of the St. Mary's Foundation, the Indiana Business Diversity Council, the Board of Branch Managers of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana and he is a former member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission.

Mr. Redd, his wife Melanie and their two children reside in Evansville.

Dr. Schenk is Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Southwest. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Indiana State and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Evansville. Dr. Schenk began his career with the Ivy Tech System in 1976 as Coordinator of Student Development and served in positions in Student Affairs and Business Affairs before his appointment as Executive Dean in 1990. He was appointed Chancellor in 1996. Dr. Schenk also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Mary's Health System, the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, the Evansville Celebration of Diversity Lecture Series Board of Governors, the Rotary Club of Evansville and The Mayor's Education Roundtable where he Co-Chairs the Adult Education Attainment Committee.

2008 Grant Writing Class
If you are interested in attending the class, please complete and submit an application. Classes will be scheduled in the fall based upon applicant demand.

For application and other information click here (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). Due to limited class size, only one representative per organization, please.

2007 Foundation Grant Awards announced
The Welborn Baptist Foundation, Inc. has announced grants of $4.4 million dollars to forty-two (55) organizations for 2007. To see a list of all grant recipients click here (HTML) or here (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Leading Community Indicators Report
The Welborn Baptist Foundation has updated its Leading Communty Indicators report. It can be accessed here (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Watch this space periodically for news related to the Welborn Baptist Foundation.

NOTICE
The Welborn Baptist Foundation conducts one defined grant cycle per year. Historically, that cycle has begun on March 1 and concluded in the fourth quarter of the year. Information regarding the commencement of the grant cycle is generally published on or about March 1 of the year. Please consult this web site for the most up to date and relevant information related to the grant cycle.