Jim Cawley Named President and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

PHILADELPHIA, Jan., 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jim Cawley has been named president and chief executive officer of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), effective February 9. The announcement was made by Lon Greenberg, chairman, UGI Corporation/AmeriGas and chair of UWGPSNJ's regional Board of Directors, following a six-month national search.

Cawley joins UWGPSNJ upon ending his term of office as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  As president and CEO, Cawley will lead the organization's work to improve Education, Income and Health for the region's most vulnerable populations, while also strengthening the regional safety net. Through the Impact Fund, UWGPSNJ works to ensure children start kindergarten ready to learn; students read at grade level by the end of third grade; youth graduate from high school ready for college and career; households have the income and assets necessary to be financially stable and economically independent; and that individuals and families have access to resources they need to lead healthy lives and have their basic needs met.

In naming Cawley to this critical role, Greenberg stated that UWGPSNJ's regional Board of Directors is confident Jim possesses both the leadership skills and public service experience required to guide an organization whose investments support thousands of individuals and families in nine counties across southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

"The Board was determined to identify a leader who demonstrated a commitment to serving the community and carrying out our mission, and who possessed the ability to build relationships, engender trust in the community and generate results. We considered a wide cross section of candidates, and Jim was the clear choice," says Greenberg. "He has spent the majority of his career  in the service of others, both regionally and nationally, developing productive relationships and leading large groups of constituents to success. As lieutenant governor, he also has a unique understanding of how United Way's Impact areas connect, and how strategic improvements in Education, Income and Health can lift the entire region."

Mindy Holman, incoming chair of the regional Board of Directors and president and CEO of Holman Automotive Group, echoed Greenberg's comments.  "I look forward to working alongside Jim; his enthusiasm for the work and his mix of public and private sector experience will allow him to lead our regional team effectively and enhance our ability to drive greater Impact for those in need, from Chester County to Cape May," says Holman.

As lieutenant governor, Cawley brought government and community leaders together through his work with various statewide commissions and partnerships, as well as recovery efforts stemming from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. He previously served on the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, as chief of staff to State Senator Tommy Tomlinson, and as a member of the board of the Bristol School District. In the community, Cawley has served on the board of directors for Lower Bucks Hospital and as trustee of Bucks County Community College. He also served as the Governor's representative on the Temple University Board of Trustees.

"I'm thrilled to join an organization whose sole focus is to improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable neighbors," says Cawley. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with community members from the nonprofit, public and private sectors to drive measurable, lasting Impact across the region.  I look forward to continuing to work with local leaders across our region to address pressing challenges and make a positive difference in the lives of those that need us most."

Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter endorsed the Board's selection.  "Jim Cawley is a great guy and a fantastic public servant. I truly enjoyed working with him when he was a County Commissioner in Bucks County, in part because he always displayed a regional perspective on issues. He understood that we are one Philadelphia region with one common future," says Mayor Nutter. "As lieutenant governor, Jim Cawley was always available and always listened when my team and I needed to discuss issues related to legislation or economic development projects. He is a great friend to Philadelphia and the Commonwealth and he cares passionately. I know that he will do a terrific job in his new position at the helm of United Way."

A native of Levittown, Pa., Cawley earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree from Temple University. He resides in Wrightstown, Bucks County with his wife Suzanne and their son Nicky. Cawley succeeds Tony Conti, former managing partner of PwC Philadelphia, who served as volunteer interim president and CEO since June. "On behalf of everyone at United Way, I thank Tony for his leadership, which has allowed for a seamless transition, enabled the staff to maintain momentum and laid the groundwork for Jim to hit the ground running," says Greenberg.

The six-month national search for new leadership was led by a committee comprised of members of UWGPSNJ's regional Board of Directors co-chaired by Holman and Carl Buchholz, managing partner of DLA Piper's Philadelphia Office, in partnership with Diversified Search. The opportunity attracted a diverse pool of more than 60 highly qualified applicants from various industries and sectors. 

UWGPSNJ makes an annual investment of more than $60 million to improve local communities. These investments include Impact Grants for individual nonprofits demonstrating strong outcomes in United Way's focus areas; annual investments in United Way-led programs and collaborative initiatives to address specific needs in the health and human services sector; and donor contributions to nonprofits working to strengthen communities through United Way's donor designation program.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, serving communities in Pennsylvania's Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and New Jersey's Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland counties, is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people's lives. United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way is advancing the common good in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey by positively Impacting the lives of people throughout the region in the areas of Education, Income and Health. For more information about United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, visit www.UnitedForImpact.org.

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SOURCE United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

Related Links

http://www.UnitedForImpact.org