Wishard Memorial Foundation Announces New President and Chief Executive Officer
August 14, 2006
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Indianapolis, August 14, 2006 ? The Wishard Memorial Foundation announces that James P. Wood has been appointed to the position of president and chief executive officer.
Wood comes to Wishard from the Indianapolis Zoo, where he spent the last six years as director of Institutional Advancement.
?The Wishard Memorial Foundation is very excited to have brought Jim in to provide strong leadership to the Foundation,? said Vicki F. Perry, chair of the Wishard Memorial Foundation?s board of directors. ?His excellent qualifications, solid character and strong commitment to our mission will well serve the Foundation?s goal to strengthen its support of the many excellent services provided to our community through the efforts of Wishard Health Services.?
Wood?s responsibilities at the Foundation will include providing day-to-day leadership and directing fundraising strategies that support Wishard?s mission, vision and goals.
"I'm extraordinarily pleased that Jim is joining us. Jim is passionate about Wishard's mission of providing outstanding care to the underserved and vulnerable, and is a person of rare talent and achievement,? said Matthew R. Gutwein, president and chief executive officer, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County. ?He is the perfect person to lead the Wishard Memorial Foundation."
While at the Indianapolis Zoo, Wood supervised a staff of ten and 23 volunteers and oversaw a total departmental expense budget of more than $1.1 million. Wood helped enhance a major gift effort through staff reorganization and the creation of a comprehensive moves management system. During his tenure, annual individual giving increased from $850,000 in 2000 to $1,430,000 in 2005.
Some of his major accomplishments while at the Indianapolis Zoo included revitalizing corporate, planned and individual giving committees; collaborating with the public relations department and communications consultants to produce campaign case statements, brochures and presentations; and managing the Indianapolis Zoo?s Campaign for Conservation and Community, a $31 million fundraising effort that reached its goal 14 months ahead of schedule.
Wood brings over 20 years of experience as a nonprofit manager and fundraiser. Prior to his tenure at the Indianapolis Zoo, he spent eight years as director of institutional advancement at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. He has a master?s degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana University and a bachelor?s degree in radio, television and film from Northwestern University.
"I have been fortunate enough to spend 20 years working for nonprofit organizations with meaningful missions. I look forward to applying the experience I have gained at the Foundation,? Wood said. ?I eagerly look forward to this opportunity and I?m excited to work with everyone in the community to continue to assist Wishard in fulfilling its mission to advocate, care, teach and serve the citizens of Marion County.?
The Wishard Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a public philanthropic organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness that support healthcare initiatives benefiting residents of Marion County with special emphasis on its poor and vulnerable populations. The Foundation was established in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Wishard Health Services is the public hospital division of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County and is managed by the Indiana University School of Medicine whose physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty services.
For more information about the Wishard Memorial Foundation or to make a contribution, please call the Wishard Memorial Foundation at (317) 630-6451 or visit www.WishardFoundation.org.