New Board Leadership at Women's Caring Program
Robar Ascends to Presidency of Michigan Foundation
DETROIT, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Caring Program, a Michigan-based non-profit foundation focused on early childhood education and care, today announced the appointment of Colleen Robar as WCP president, the WCP's first new president. Carol Walters, founder of the WCP, is stepping down as president and remaining on as a board member.
"We are so proud and honored to have Colleen take the helm of the WCP, guiding our 21st century efforts to help all Michigan children receive quality childcare and early education," said Walters. "Colleen brings a dynamism and wealth of talent to everything she touches. I am personally proud and grateful that Colleen has graced the Women's Caring Program board with the leadership, wisdom and wit. She will continue to lead and grow the WCP's signature program, ChildCare Commitment, as the nation's only program assisting with the care and education for children from working-poor families."
Other WCP officers elected include Detroit resident Linda Forte, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, Comerica, as vice president; Ann Arbor resident Valerie Brader, partner, Bodman LLP as secretary; and Grosse Pointe Park resident Melissa Cragg, chief investment officer, The Fisher Group, as treasurer.
Previously president of Robar PR, Robar is currently director of corporate communications at Crain Communications Inc. in Detroit where she is responsible for the publishing company's internal and external marketing, branding and communications efforts. Robar has held many leadership positions within Crain Communications Inc., including at Detroit Monthly, Crain's Detroit Business, and as group marketing director for Automotive News. She has also held VP communications and public relations positions at Mullen, Ardesta, the Metropolitan Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Ritz Carlton, Dearborn. Robar serves on the board of the Greening of Detroit, Belle Isle Women's Committee and St. Charles Borromeo Church. A graduate of Leadership Detroit, Robar is an accredited member, past president and board member of the Public Relations Society of America-Detroit. She lives in downtown Detroit with her husband and two children.
She holds a journalism degree from Central Michigan University and a MBA degree from the University of Phoenix.
"The WCP makes a tremendous impact of the lives of disadvantaged children in Michigan," said Robar. "At a time when Michigan's child poverty rate is at nearly 25 percent, I look forward to the challenge of helping reduce the number of children in that statistic who receive inadequate early childhood education. As the economy has worsened, the resolve of the WCP has only increased and we will continue our efforts to help these children by reaching out to the thousands of individuals, corporations, foundations, non-profit partners and all people of good will everywhere, who understand that if we ignore the education needs of our littlest ones, it's like trampling over $100 bills to chase pennies.
"Filling the shoes of the incredibly charismatic and innovative Carol Walters will also be no small challenge. Carol embodies the WCP board as a whole: a dynamic, volunteer board that continues to thrive based on commitment and depth of expertise. That is, in no small measure, because everyone's heart and soul is behind helping disadvantaged children succeed."
For more information on the Women's Caring Program, its signature statewide program ChildCare Commitment, or to make a donation, please visit: www.WomensCaringProgram.org.
SOURCE Women's Caring Program
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