Lakewood Alumni Foundation Selects Interim ED
The Lakewood Alumni Foundation (LAF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Missy Toms to the position of Interim Executive Director of the LAF. Ms. Toms, a resident of Lakewood with three children in the Lakewood City Schools, brings extensive fundraising and marketing experience to our organization. She has a history of community involvement and a strong commitment to Lakewood, having worked in leadership capacities in a variety of organizations, including Ohio Chautauqua in Lakewood, Lakewood Earth And Food Community, Kaufman Park Friends, and the Help to Others (H2O) program.
The LAF is pleased to have a person of Missy’s talents to lead our fundraising and marketing efforts in service of our mission—to help the Lakewood City School remain an opportunity rich environment. In the past several years, the LAF has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships for anti-bullying programs, summer camps for athletes, teaching enrichment awards through the generosity of the late LHS teacher Margaret Warner, financial assistance for music lessons, numerous college scholarships through the generosity of alumni and friends, etc.
The LAF is committed to retaining those qualities that make our schools unique, including and especially a broad curriculum and a rich array of clubs and extra-curricular activities—all for the sake of helping students become leaders, effective team members and engaged, contributing citizens. In light of evolving state budget priorities, the LAF support of the Lakewood Schools and our students is more important than ever. As we expand our fundraising and marketing efforts, we are pleased to have someone of Missy’s capabilities to continue the legacy of previous executive directors Anthony Dibiasio and Teresa Coyne Andreani, who built one of the most effective public schools alumni foundations in the state.
From 2008 to 2011, Ms. Toms was Director of Marketing for the Beck Center, having previously been the Director of Community and Media Relations for the City Club of Cleveland (2004-2008). Prior to 2004, she worked in Washington DC as Director of Membership and Marketing. In each position, she increased participation, contributions, attendance, etc. She joins Ms Ellen Galmitz, our Development Director and Ms Wanda Woods, our executive secretary. Ms. Toms officially join our team on August 20th. As we welcome Missy aboard, we are committed to doing the necessary work to maintain the opportunity rich environment that has characterized the Lakewood City Schools for many generations.