Bill Burke to Chair Salvation Army National Advisory Board

Long-time volunteer and SVP at Nationwide begins role as The Salvation Army celebrates its 150th anniversary

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Jan 12, 2015, 10:02 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Salvation Army's National Commander, David Jeffrey, announced that Mr. William J. Burke, Senior Vice President of Marketing with Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio, will serve as National Advisory Board (NAB) Chairman for The Salvation Army. Mr. Burke was elected to the position unanimously at a full meeting of the Army's national advisory board in Newport Beach, CA, in April 2014. Beginning in January 2015, he will serve a three-year term leading the efforts of the board for the nation's largest faith-based social service agency.

"I am honored to be affirmed by my fellow board members to lead the NAB for the next three years," said Mr. Burke. "Ever since my first experience as a volunteer many years ago, I have consistently witnessed the compassion and effectiveness of The Salvation Army, and I will bring that hands-on experience from Central Ohio to the National board."

Mr. Burke has been a long-time supporter of The Salvation Army. He joined the area advisory board in Columbus, Ohio in 1996, and took an active role in volunteering in the Heart-to-Heart program, preparing and providing meals on weekend evenings to the homeless in shelters and on the streets. He was part of the leadership team that created "Need Knows No Season", the primary annual fund raising event for The Salvation Army in Central Ohio. He has been actively involved with the Community Relations committee, and has been Vice-Chair and an executive committee member of the Columbus Advisory Board. Bill and his wife are active holiday bell ringers in their local community and are engaged in the annual Christmas Cheer program. They are working with newly assigned officers to help grow the influence and impact of the Delaware OH Corps.

Mr. Burke joined the National Advisory Board in 2010 and has served on both the Community Relations and Finance and Institutional Development committees, the latter of which he most recently chaired.

"Bill has been an enthusiastic supporter of The Salvation Army's mission for many years in Ohio and nationally," said Commissioner Jeffrey. "This year marks our organization's 150th anniversary, and it is an auspicious time for Bill to take on this new role and bring his leadership to bear as the Army looks ahead to the future."

"I am proud to pass the mantle of National Advisory Board leadership to Bill," said outgoing National Advisory Board Chairperson Charlotte Jones Anderson. "This was a tremendously meaningful experience for me, and I know that The Salvation Army will benefit from Bill's passion, energy and leadership."

"The Salvation Army has built one of the most trusted organizations in the world because it consistently, effectively and compassionately delivers basic human services to those who desperately need them," said Mr. Burke. "Today, The Salvation Army is establishing itself with a new generation of millennials who are making their own mark on volunteerism and philanthropy."

In his ten years with Nationwide, Mr. Burke has served as Chief Marketing Officer of Property and Casualty Operations, and Chief Marketing Officer of Nationwide Financial. Previously, he held senior marketing, general management, and R&D roles with Scotts Miracle-Gro, Battelle, Fitch, and Borden. He is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. Bill and his wife Marianne live in Lewis Center, Ohio. They are active in leadership at North Church in Lewis Center. They have three married children and eleven grandchildren.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org.

SOURCE The Salvation Army