Donna Lasher Elected Chairperson of Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Officers Named; Foundation Also Adds Three New Board Members
Donna C. Lasher, Vice President of New Britain-based OKAY Industries and a member of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Board of Directors since 2002, was elected board chairperson at the Foundation’s recent annual meeting.
“It is a privilege and honor to continue to serve the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain,” said Ms. Lasher, who resides in Kensington with her husband, Douglas. “As chairperson, my goal will be to continue to cultivate and expand the Foundation’s positive impact upon quality of life in our four service communities of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.”
Elected vice chair was Charles W. Bauer, Partner, Michalik, Bauer, Silvia & Ciccarillo, LLP, New Britain. Mr. Bauer is also the new chairperson of the Governance Committee. Dr. Charles N. Leach, Jr., retired cardiologist at New Britain General Hospital, was reelected as treasurer. Foundation President James G. Williamson, a non-board member, serves as secretary to the board.
In addition to the election of officers, the Foundation also announced the addition of three new members to the board: Mooreland Hill School Director of Admissions Cheryl C. Carlson; Community Volunteer Phyllis A. Kindelan; and retired New Britain High School Principal Paul G. Salina. Also, Enrique Ernesto Juncadella, Director of Community Relations for the Central Connecticut Health Alliance, has joined the Foundation’s Grants Committee.
Ms. Lasher succeeds Robert A. Scalise, Jr., Esq., partner in the New Britain-based law firm Ericson, Scalise & Mangan, P.C. Mr. Scalise and Charles J. “C.J.” Jones, Director of Athletics at Central Connecticut State University, retired from the board and were honored at the annual meeting by their colleagues. Each joined the board in 1998 and served the maximum term allowed in accordance with Foundation bylaws. Mr. Scalise will continue to serve the Foundation as a member of the Executive and Development Committees, while Mr. Jones will be chairperson of the Scholarship Committee and a member of the Grants Committee.
Ms. Lasher has a long history of community service in the Greater New Britain region. In addition to her service to the Foundation, she is currently a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of New Britain, United Way of New Britain & Berlin and Trinity-on-Main. She is a past president and board member of the YWCA of New Britain and continues to serve as chair of the YWCA’s Finance Committee, and she is a past board chair of the New Britain Youth Museum.
Ms. Lasher has been recognized for her community service with the YWCA Women in Leadership Award (1991), the YWCA’s Volunteer of the Year Award (1992) and an Athena Award (1998). A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University and former English teacher at Bristol Eastern High School, Ms. Lasher joined OKAY Industries in 1972 and has been a company vice president since 1984.
For more information on the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018.
< Back