Gina Smith

KOSCIUSKO — Long-time county resident Gina Smith of Leesburg is the new director of development for United Way of Kosciusko County. She will work closely with Executive Director Darren Bickel to meet with local donors and corporations to help them develop their philanthropy strategies.

Smith, former director of marketing and public relations at both Warsaw Community Schools and Kosciusko Community Hospital, recently returned to the area after a stint on the east coast with various hospitals and healthcare organizations. She also spent 15 years with the Michigan-based not-for-profit group, Hospital Purchasing Service.

While working in healthcare, Smith met regularly with national and international CEOs and their staffs to focus on business intel, customer development, marketing materials, contract compliance and retention.

She is the original founder and first executive director of the Warsaw Community Foundation for Public Education and a former member of numerous county boards and committees.

At United Way Smith will work with donors, potential donors and business leaders on community impact and improvements in education, income stability and health, with a special focus on the needs of working families. These includes quality child care, school readiness, literacy, financial education, parenting skills, the needs of the senior population and much more.

A Ball State University alumna and Emens presidential scholar, Smith and her husband, Paul, reside in Leesburg. She can be reached at [email protected].

United Way Worldwide has more than 1,800 locations in 40 countries. This is the 60^th year for United Way of Kosciusko County.