President named at Valley Community Foundation

Appointment effective Jan. 28 

The Valley Community Foundation announced today that Sharon Reiss Closius has been appointed as VCF’s new President & CEO.
Effective Jan. 28, Closius will succeed Jamie Cohen, who had announced his upcoming retirement in July. Cohen led the organization for five years.
 

Closius

“In Sharon Closius we have found a candidate who has finance, operations and development experience, combined with an in-depth understanding of what a Community Foundation is and does. We believe that her diverse skill set will help VCF grow and expand Valley philanthropy well into the future,” said John Zaprzalka, Chairman of the VCF Board of Directors, who also led the Search Committee.

 “With her years of experience, Sharon understands the workings and challenges facing our local non-profit organizations, the necessity of prompt response to our community needs, and the wisdom of engaging with our Donors,” said Gregory Stamos, founder of several funds at VCF, and immediate past Chair of the VCF Board.

“I’m excited for this opportunity to join this young and growing organization that has such a strong local presence,” Closius said. “I look forward to working with the Donors and the nonprofits, and building on the work of my predecessors, so that VCF can have an even greater philanthropic impact in the Valley.”   

Closius comes to VCF from the Fairfield County Community Foundation as that organization’s Director of Philanthropic Services. In that capacity, she worked directly with donors on their philanthropic plans, and oversaw fund management and administration.

Prior to that, she served as FCCF’s Director of Development, and as Director of Finance and Administration. 

A Minnesota native, Closius earned a B.S. degree from the University of California Irvine, and an M.A. from Pepperdine University. 

She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, the President and a Charter Member of the Bethel Toastmasters Club, and the mother of three children.

Established in 2004, the Valley Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. 

It serves Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton, and is dedicated to making the Valley a better place to live and work. 

The organization is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, each of whom lives and/or works in the Valley. 

In its first eight years, VCF has grown to 130 Funds and more than $14 million in assets, and has distributed more than $4.4 million to Valley not-for-profit organizations. Most importantly, it has become the go-to vehicle through which Valley people may continue their philanthropy in perpetuity. 

For information visit www.valleyfoundation.org.

This information was provided in a press release from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.