Scripps Howard Foundation hires long-time nonprofit executive as CEO

Former reporter Liz Carter brings fundraising expertise to Foundation's mission of journalistic excellence

Twitter post: Scripps Howard Foundation has chosen Liz Carter, executive director @SVDPcincinnati, as its president and CEO #SHFoundation @EWScrippsCo

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The E.W. Scripps Company

Jan 20, 2015, 09:19 ET

CINCINNATI, Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scripps Howard Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed nonprofit veteran and former journalist Liz Carter as its new president and CEO, replacing Mike Philipps, who is retiring after a 40-year career in journalism and philanthropy.

The foundation is the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP).

Carter, 54, has served as executive director of St. Vincent de Paul in Cincinnati since 1999. She was responsible for leading planning, design, implementation and evaluation of all the organization's programs.

Effective April 1, Carter will lead one of the media industry's largest and most creative investors in journalism education and the operator of one of the news industry's best-known celebrations of journalistic excellence, the annual Scripps Howard Awards. She also will oversee the foundation's investment in local nonprofits across the country, including those in Cincinnati, home to The E.W. Scripps Company.

"Liz Carter has shown strong stewardship of St. Vincent de Paul and is a highly visible philanthropic leader in Cincinnati who has made a tremendous impact," said Robin Davis, lead trustee of the foundation and vice president of financial planning and analysis for Scripps. "We are looking to her to continue the foundation's mission of driving excellence in journalism and also improving the communities in which Scripps does business."

In her 15 years at the helm of St. Vincent de Paul, Carter oversaw continuous growth, including increasing the number of people helped from 50,000 to 120,000; increasing the number of active and associate members from 656 to 910; and increasing the agency's budget from $1.5 million to $15 million.

She also helped change Ohio laws to permit charitable pharmacies and then created Ohio's first, the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy. She also helped increase revenue at the Cincinnati area Thrift Store and Donation Centers from $2.1 million in 2002 to $11.6 million in 2013.

"Liz has been a wonderful gift to St. Vincent de Paul and families in need across Cincinnati," said Andrew Curran, president of the board of St. Vincent de Paul-Cincinnati. "We'd also like to thank Scripps for its ongoing support and look forward to building on our partnership as Liz moves into her new role."

Carter received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Louisville and worked as a reporter for the Community Press Newspapers in Cincinnati from 1995-1999.

Philipps is retiring from a 40-year journalism and fundraising career, including seven years running the Scripps Howard Foundation and 30 years with The Cincinnati Post/Kentucky Post.

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of media brands. In July, Scripps announced a deal with Journal Communications to merge its 21 local television stations with Journal's 13 television stations and 34 radio stations, which will make Scripps the nation's fifth-largest broadcasting group. The two companies also agreed to spin off their combined newspaper interests to form a new publicly traded company, to be called Journal Media Group. Scripps runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including mobile video news service Newsy and weather app developer Weathersphere. Scripps also produces television shows including The List and Let's Ask America, runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the long-time steward of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational program, the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1879, Scripps' motto is "Give light and the people will find their own way."

About Scripps Howard Foundation
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, Scripps Howard Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes. With a special commitment to the regions where Scripps does business, the Foundation helps build healthy communities and improve the quality of life through support of sound educational programs, strong families, vital social services, enriching arts and culture and inclusive civic affairs.

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