PITTSBURGH, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh today announced that its chief executive officer, Eric Mann, has accepted the position of CEO of the YMCA of Florida's First Coast in Jacksonville, Florida and will remain with the Greater Pittsburgh Y through June 30.

The YMCA has established a search committee and will be working with the YMCA of the USA to identify a replacement for Mr. Mann.  The Greater Pittsburgh Y expects to have Mr. Mann's replacement identified prior to his departure.

"Under Eric Mann's superb leadership over the past eight years, the Greater Pittsburgh Y has improved and expanded our facilities, vastly increased membership, the scope of our services and the number of people we help, solidified our funding, developed a strong team of volunteers and staff, and strengthened our partnerships with other community organizations," said Robert B. Cottington, Chairman of the Y Metropolitan Board of Directors.  

"On behalf of all 170 full-time employees and hundreds volunteers at our 16 locations and 3 camps, I would like to thank Eric for his years of service and his extraordinary accomplishments in Pittsburgh, and to wish him and his family the best of luck in Jacksonville."

Mr. Mann said that he is making the move to be closer to his and his wife's families.  "It will indeed be difficult to leave the Pittsburgh area and all the many friends I have made here, but my family and I will always have fond memories of the area."

"Most of all, I will remember the way other Pittsburgh non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes have always seemed to come together to help the Y meet our social responsibility to address community challenges with innovative programs that develop youth, encourage healthy living and improve our community," said Mr. Mann.

Since Eric Mann began his term as CEO of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, the organization has opened 6 new or expanded Y's, including the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, Penn Hills YMCA, Baierl Family YMCA, Wilmerding YMCA and two new Y facilities in downtown Pittsburgh, the PNC YMCA and the PNC YMCA at the U.S. Steel Tower. Facility improvement continues, as the YMCA recently broke ground on the new Thelma Lovette YMCA on Centre Avenue.  In 2010, the Greater Pittsburgh Y also completed a merger with the YMCA of McKeesport.  

During Mr. Mann's tenure, the YMCA completed two capital campaigns, raising $43 million to support improvement and expansion of facilities and YMCA programs.  The YMCA has also established numerous new YMCA programs to address pressing social problems such as childhood nutrition and obesity, and to help underserved populations such as the poor, minorities and the elderly.  Many of these programs developed as YMCA partnerships with other Pittsburgh non-profit organizations and for-profit corporations.  The YMCA also has developed corporate wellness programs with many organizations throughout the community.

Before joining the Y of Greater Pittsburgh, Mr. Mann held management and executive positions for a number of YMCA's around the country, including in Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Charlotte.

About the Y

The Y is the nation's leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y of Greater Pittsburgh is a 501c(3) charitable organization dedicated to nurturing the potential of every youth and teen, improving the nation's health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Programs offered by the Y of Greater Pittsburgh serve more than 80,000 different people each year and include after-school care and childcare, outdoor camping, community outreach, sports, health and fitness, youth counseling and senior assistance. Every day, the Y works side by side with its neighbors to ensure that everyone regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

SOURCE YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh