CLEVELAND – September 10, 2020 – Deaconess Foundation, a private foundation that helps people in need build careers that sustain them and their 
families, has selected Cathy Belk to lead the organization as its President & CEO effective Oct. 12, 2020. Belk takes over for retiring President & CEO Deborah Vesy, who has been with the organization since its inception in 1997, including her role as its chief executive since 2002.
Belk brings years of diverse experience to the role, most recently serving as the President of the venture capital and entrepreneurial assistance nonprofit JumpStart. Prior to that, Belk led innovation at Cleveland-based American Greetings, and held roles at The Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble and Bank of America. With a background rich in coalition building, leadership and innovation cultivation, Belk is perfectly positioned to drive workforce collaboration efforts and usher the Deaconess Foundation into its next chapter.
“For years, Deaconess has been committed to fundamentally changing the workforce ecosystem in Northeast Ohio. Cathy Belk is uniquely qualified to build on our momentum and the significant strides we and our partners have made to impact more lives in the region,” said Russell Lamb, Chair of the Deaconess Foundation Board of Trustees. “She not only understands workforce development and the needs of employers but has an innovator’s mindset and is skilled at the type of collaboration required to change systems.”
“I am so thrilled to be joining the Deaconess Foundation, particularly at a time when there is so much progress being made and momentum toward the systemic change necessary to reimagine our workforce ecosystem,” said Belk. “We recognize there are many challenges ahead, and that the pandemic and structural racism have made the needs even more dire for the disadvantaged populations we disproportionately serve. In these challenges, we recognize the urgency and opportunities at hand. I can’t wait to build upon the strong foundation Deborah created to achieve the mission and goals.”
The mission of the Deaconess Foundation is to help people in need, allowing them to build careers that sustain them and their families. Deaconess was a founder of the Workforce Connect partnership that brought employers and funders together to strengthen the workforce development system. In the past year, the Foundation has helped to create and fund workforce sector partnerships in manufacturing, healthcare and IT. Deaconess also has provided grants to College Now Greater Cleveland, Open Doors Academy, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Towards Employment and the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.
Deaconess Foundation believes that people have the inherent capacity to effect positive changes in their lives, in their organizations and in their communities. The organization is committed to being a collaborative, philanthropic partner and to learning, leading and supporting efforts that advance its mission and the community. The organization’s work embodies the core values of impact, integrity and collaboration, supported through continuous learning.
About Deaconess Foundation
Established in 1997, Deaconess Foundation is a private foundation in Cuyahoga County committed to helping people in need build careers that sustain them and their families. It makes grants to organizations and contributes to the workforce development ecosystem. Its goal is to partner with these organizations to build a community in which pathways to family-sustaining jobs and wages are visible and accessible to all. To learn more about Deaconess Foundation, please visit www.deaconessfdn.org.
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