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Press Releases

Denver Public Schools Foundation Names New Board Officers,

Elects Three New Board Members

 

DENVER, June 22, 2010The Denver Public Schools (DPS) Foundation has announced the addition of three Denver business leaders to its board of directors, as well as a new slate of officers assuming leadership roles. The changes were voted into place at the board’s meeting June 15, and all new roles are effective July 1, 2010.

Donna Lynne, President of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan for the Colorado Region, has been tapped as the Chair-Elect. Lynne, a DPS Foundation board member since 2007, assumes the leadership role in July, 2011 from Kristin Richardson, who has served as Chair since 2008.  Richardson, one of Denver’s most highly-regarded community leaders and fundraisers will serve her final year as Board Chair for the 2010-11 school year.

Prior to her role with Kaiser Permanente, Lynne was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Group Health Incorporated, a $2.5 billion managed care organization. During that time she also served as the President of GHI HMO, a subsidiary corporation. Lynne also spent 20 years in various positions in New York City government, including First Deputy Commissioner, Office of Labor Relations; Director, Mayor’s Office of Operations; and Senior Vice President, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Additionally, DPS Foundation board members Jeff Ross and Francisco Garcia have stepped into officer roles, as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Ross, President and CEO of Ross Aviations, has served on the DPS Foundation Board since February, 2009. Garcia, Founder and President of Garcia International, joined the DPS Foundation Board in June, 2005.

The DPS Foundation board also welcomed three new civic leaders at the June 15 meeting: Chris Chavez, Senior Communications Manager of United Launch Alliance (ULA); Doug Friednash, Of Counsel with Greenberg Traurig; and Craig Umbaugh, Partner at Hogan Lovells. All three new members are also proud Denver Public Schools parents.

Chavez manages ULA’s corporate communications, including employee and media relations as well as corporate citizenship efforts in states where ULA’s 3,800 employees live and work. He is a 22-year communications professional, excelling in all areas of strategic public relations including community relations and corporate philanthropy, media relations, public policy, event management, and internal communications. He has counseled both nonprofits and Fortune 200 corporations including AT&T, Qwest, Martin Marietta and the Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.

Friednash is an attorney in Greenberg Traurig’s Governmental and Litigation Practice Groups where he represents clients in governmental matters, and in election issues and initiatives. He serves as lead counsel in Ritchie v. Ritter, representing a coalition of groups challenging the constitutionality of Amendment 54. Friednash has also represented numerous political and issues campaigns, including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Coloradans for Responsible Reform, Colorado Preservation Council, and the Creekside Coalition, in numerous ballot initiatives before the Title Board and the Colorado Supreme Court.

Umbaugh focuses his practice in the areas of governmental and legislative law, finance, sports and sports facilities law, and banking and commercial transactions. Umbaugh’s works with public entities and private clients advising them on issues such as urban redevelopment, negotiation of governmental agreements, elections, financing, construction, design, operation of stadiums and public venues, and the acquisition or relocation of teams.

About the Denver Public Schools Foundation
The DPS Foundation raises and manages funds in support of various programs that drive student achievement, including principal leadership development, resources for teachers and classrooms, and after-school tutoring and enrichment programs. Through strategic program investments and community leadership, we support Denver Public Schools in creating a district where outstanding educational achievements are the norm and all children have hope of a great future. For more information including the complete Denver Public Schools Foundation board of directors, visit www.dpsfoundation.org.

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Contact:

Denver Public Schools Foundation

Sarah Dixon

Director of Marketing & Communications

sdixon@dpsfoundation.org

720-423-3877