Allentown, Pa., December 27, 2019—The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) said thank you and farewell to five long-standing members of the Board of Governors at a recent meeting. The members completing their terms of service at the end of 2019 are Denise Blew, W. Beall Fowler, James Margolis, Mike Stershic, and Matt Sorrentino, Esq. Board of Governors Vice Chair Bonnie S. Coyle, M.D., M.S. presented the departing members with citations at the November board meeting at DeSales University.
Denise Blew served two periods as a member of the Board of Governors. She first served a seven- year period from 2003-2009 and a second three-term period from 2011 to 2019. “Serving 13 years as a member of the Executive Committee, Denise’s unwavering commitment and contributions to the Community Foundation will forever be linked to its growth, impact, and success,” said Bernie Story, President and CEO of LVCF. “She served as Vice Chair of the Board from 2011-2012 and Chair of the Board from 2013-2014.”
Throughout her entire tenure as a Governor of the Community Foundation, Blew served on the Finance Committee and remained a reliable and unwavering voice for the wise investment and management of Foundation assets. She served as Vice Chair in 2005, Chair from 2006-2008. She returned to the committee in 2010 and served as Chair for the past 6 years. Denise served 13 years on the Legal Affairs Committee, three years on the Planning Committee, and five years on the Personnel Committee, including one as Chair. She served as a member of the Audit Committee from 2005-2006 and again from 2015-2019. She has served as the Board of Governor’s Treasurer for the past five years.
W. Beall Fowler served three terms as a member of the Board of Governors from 2011 to 2019. “Beall’s understanding of the community’s needs was invaluable, providing leadership as a member of the Grants Committee in 2011-2012 and later as Chair of the Discretionary Grants Committee from 2014-2016,” said Story. “His personal generosity and commitment to the Foundation’s growth have been exemplary and have helped to significantly increase the Foundation’s charitable assets and its ability to serve the Lehigh Valley in perpetuity.”
Fowler served as Vice Chair of the Board in 2014-2016 and Chair of Board from 2017-2018, providing leadership to the organization during the 50th anniversary year and ensuring success of the Foundation’s Be the Spark year of special grantmaking. He served as Chair of the Board Affairs Committee from 2017-2018, the Executive Committee from 2014-2019 and is a recent member of the Finance Committee in 2019.
Jim Margolis served three terms as a member of the Board of Governors from 2011 to 2019. During his entire tenure, Jim has helped guide grantmaking, serving on the Discretionary Grants Committee from 2011-2016, and later on the Community Investments Committee from 2017 to 2019. “Jim’s insights and wisdom have been invaluable to Foundation’s effectiveness in grant making, helping solidify the Foundation’s status as trusted funder—addressing the essential needs of the Lehigh Valley,” Story noted.
Matt Sorrentino, Esq., served three terms as a member of the Board of Governors from 2011 to 2019. During his entire tenure, he has been a member of the Legal Affairs Committee, serving as chair for the past six years. He has served on the Board Affairs Committee for the past five years, and helped shape the Foundation’s by-laws as chair of that committee from 2012-2014. Additionally, Matt has served on the Development Committee from 2011-2015, the Executive Committee from 2014-2019, and as Board of Governors Secretary for the past five years.
“Matt brought an attorney’s insight and expertise, helping the Foundation navigate the complexity of the issues during key times of growth and transition,” Story said. His leadership has strengthened the Foundation internally, providing oversight and enhancing its due diligence, and policies, and procedures.”
Mike Stershic served three terms as a member of the Board of Governors from 2011 to 2019. He served as Vice Chair of the Board in 2013-2014 and then as Chair of the Board from 2015-2016, providing leadership to the organization during a time of growth, and increased capacity. He was instrumental in the planning and implementation of the 50th anniversary year activities.
He has helped shape the leadership of the organization as Chair of the Board Affairs committee from 2012-2017. Stershic helped guide the organization as a member of the Executive Committee from 2012-2019. He served as vice chair of the Marketing Committee from 2011-2014 and was a committee member until 2016. He joined the Finance Committee in 2017 and has served for the past three years.
“Mike’s continued commitment is exemplified by his leadership as Chair of the Board of Associates,” said Story. “Established in 2018, the Board of Associates, under Mike’s leadership has greatly enhanced the Foundation’s community engagement and visibly among community leaders.
