Phoenixville Community Health Foundation CEO Louis J. Beccaria plans to retire this year after 21 years in the position.

During his tenure, the foundation has distributed more than $37,300,000 in grants to nonprofits to improve the health and wellness of residents of the Greater Phoenixville region, including 19 townships in Chester and Montgomery counties.

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Under Dr. Beccaria’s leadership, the foundation also launched several programs and initiatives to improve healthcare access for uninsured residents, build the capacity of nonprofits, and improve social determinants of health, such as affordable housing and transportation.

Dr. Beccaria was instrumental in conceiving and implementing a leadership program for local citizens (Community Health Leadership Academy), as well as the Executive Leadership Institute for current executive directors and aspiring executive directors in the Greater Phoenixville region.

“Through his extraordinary leadership, passion, and understanding of philanthropy, Dr. Beccaria has changed the lives of so many people for the better and inspired others to do the same,” said John Colarusso, Chairperson of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The foundation’s board thanks him for his service to the community. The foundation will continue to build on his legacy of achievement while positioning ourselves to address the future health needs of our community.”

Dr. Beccaria will remain in his position until a successor is chosen. The Board of Directors has retained Capacity for Change, LLC to conduct a national search for his successor under the oversight of a Search Committee chaired by Board Secretary Kathryn Evans, the Executive Director of Church Housing Corporation.

“Our succession plan calls for Dr. Beccaria to remain in place as CEO and then stay on in some limited capacity through a transition period until the new CEO has fully acclimated to the foundation’s business affairs and role in the community,” said Evans. “Our goal is to have the transition completed by late fall of 2019.”

Before joining the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation in September 1998, Dr. Beccaria was CEO of the Stewart Huston Charitable Trust in Coatesville.

“A person’s health is essential to their success in school, work, and life,” he said. “I am deeply honored to have worked with outstanding board members who have embraced the concept of community health.

“Likewise, it’s been a blessing to have worked in partnership with so many exceptional people and organizations over the past two decades who have shared the belief that everyone in the Greater Phoenixville region should have the opportunity to be healthy and live well. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for and knowledge of philanthropy in several other ways as an author and consultant following my retirement.”

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