Barb Young, President of the Porter County Community Foundation, has announced that she will retire from the Foundation at the end of 2016. “My time at the Foundation has been an incredible journey,” said Young. “It has been an honor and a privilege to meet and work with so many wonderful people that make the Foundation and our Porter County communities so special.”
Young first served as a founding Board member and then assumed the staff position of President in October of 1998. “I am a great believer in the importance of bringing new ideas and new thinking to organizations. After 20 years, I think the time is right for the Foundation to have a new leader,” said Young.
The Foundation Board of Directors has been planning and working on the organization’s leadership transition plan for some time. “As a board, we understood the importance of leadership succession planning and organizational development. Barb’s retirement announcement is the culmination of an engaged, effective, and diligent process of the board and staff,” said Spero Valavanis, Chair of the Porter County Community Foundation Board of Directors. “Barb was an instrumental leader in establishing the Foundation 20 years ago. The Foundation and our entire community have been the benefactors of Barb’s benevolence and caring. There is no question she will be missed, but she has also paved the way for continued success.”
The Foundation Board of Directors announced that Bill Higbie has been named the new President and CEO of the Porter County Community Foundation, beginning April 1, 2016. Young will remain on staff until the end of the year to support the transition and manage special projects. “We can’t thank Barb enough for her dedication. We are thrilled that she will help us turn the page on this new chapter,” said Valavanis.
Higbie has served as the Foundation’s Vice President of Development for more than a year and previously served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as a funeral director for Moeller Funeral Home for 23 years. Higbie and his wife, Karen, live in Kouts along with their two children, Grace and Matthew.
“Bill is a lifelong Porter County resident, vested in our community. He believes in the power of philanthropy and embraces the vision of the Foundation,” said Valavanis. “Bill’s amazing sense of empathy allows him to help individuals and families accomplish their philanthropic goals.”
Through the past two decades, the Foundation has helped 6000 donors connect to local causes, including establishing more than 350 funds, which provide lasting support for charitable organizations throughout the community. In total, the Foundation has awarded more than $19 million in grants and scholarships. Today, the Foundation holds over $44 million in assets and annually distributes $2 million in grants.