Kevin Dow Named Senior Vice President, Impact and Innovation at United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

Former COO and Senior Deputy Commerce Director for City of Philadelphia's Commerce Department to Lead United Way's Impact Agenda and Innovation Strategy

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kevin Dow has been named Senior Vice  President of Impact and Innovation at United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ).  In this role, he will lead United Way's regional Impact agenda, developing and executing strategies that address critical needs in local communities, improving education, income, and health in nine counties across Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140116/DC47682)

Under Dow's leadership, UWGPSNJ will invest its Impact Fund in organizations and United Way-led  programs and initiatives that ensure children start kindergarten ready to learn; students read at grade level by 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. 

"Kevin has a proven track record of leading high-performing, results-oriented initiatives to help boost our region overall," said Jill Michal, president and CEO of UWGPSNJ. "He is a strategic thinker and leader with a solid foundation in business, finance, government and nonprofit leadership, and we are thrilled to have him lead our Impact work. With a strong relationship management skillset and a passion for philanthropy, Kevin's expertise will help us be an effective leader and partner in this region, driving measurable, lasting Impact that none of us can achieve alone."

Prior to joining United Way, Dow served for five years as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Deputy Commerce Director for the City of Philadelphia's Commerce Department, where he led strategic efforts to help both small businesses and major corporations in Philadelphia thrive, ultimately increasing economic development in the city. In this role, Kevin cultivated relationships with key stakeholders throughout the Philadelphia business community including the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the African American Chamber of Commerce, the Independence Business Alliance (Greater Philadelphia's LGBT Chamber of Commerce), the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, elected officials and labor union leaders. Previously, Dow worked for more than 19 years in both financial services and community investment at Wachovia Corporation. In addition, Dow has 24 years of experience serving on nonprofit boards of diverse organizations within the economic development, workforce, education, religious and cultural sectors including Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia (formerly Delaware Valley Grantmakers.)

"It has been my privilege to be a United Way partner for decades, as a contributor, corporate partner, and volunteer; I am thrilled to now be joining United Way as the leader of the Impact team," said Dow.  "My time with the City, making Philadelphia a better place and creating opportunities for communities to thrive - improving education, commerce and quality of life - has been the beacon of my career; it is a true blessing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue improving lives in this region with United Way, an organization that is so closely aligned with my values." 

"Kevin's leadership will help United Way translate its aspirations for the region into actionable strategies that achieve desired outcomes in the areas of education, income and health," added Lon Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of UGI Corporation, and Chair of the regional Board of Directors for UWGPSNJ. "We are pleased to have Kevin's wealth of knowledge and experience to help us improve lives from Western Montgomery County to the Jersey Shore." 

As a native Philadelphian and a proud graduate of Central High School, Dow received his B.A. in Finance in 1991 from Morehouse College in Atlanta.  He later earned his M.B.A. in Management in 2002 from Saint Joseph's University.

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.

SOURCE United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey