The Board of Directors of United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County announced today the resignation of President/CEO Patrick Jinks, who has been selected President/CEO at United Way in Lancaster, PA.

United Way Board Chair Jeff Liverman praised Jinks’ leadership, and credited community support for United Way’s success during Jinks’ 10-year tenure as President/CEO.  “While we are saddened to lose Patrick as our President/CEO, the opportunity for him to lead a large United Way speaks volumes of his leadership and all of our stakeholders for creating a successful organization that has garnered the attention of other United Way organizations,” Liverman said.

United Way of Lancaster County raises nearly $9 million in their annual campaign, houses a staff of 27, and is one of ten local United Ways selected by United Way Worldwide as an Education Mobilization United Way.

Jinks has served United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County for 10 years.  He was Campaign/Marketing Director at United Way in Shreveport, LA for 6 years before moving to Danville.  Additionally, he currently serves on United Way’s National Professional Council. During Jinks’ tenure in Danville, United Way has celebrated numerous milestones, including:

• Remaining financially solid during a very difficult economic downturn.
• Becoming fully outcome/result-based in funding of programs.
• Re-framing United Way into a community impact model that extends results from the program level  to the community level.
• Locating, designing, and purchasing new office space downtown, increasing United Way visibility, profile, and image, and securing major grant funding and monthly income streams to finance it.
• In coordination and partnership with Virginia Legal Aid Society, Caswell Senior Center, and Pittsylvania County Community Action, turning just over $600,000 of DRF grant funds into over $2 million in direct economic impact on low-income families and individuals through the BEST Initiative.
• In coordination with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and Danville Regional Foundation, leading the formation of Smart Beginnings Danville-Pittsylvania, and securing a $5.4 million early childhood grant (the largest per capita investment in early childhood in the state of Virginia to date).

“The United Way Board of Directors is grateful that Patrick has served not only United Way, but also the greater community through the many civic and volunteer roles he has held during his tenure here,” Liverman stated.  “We will miss him, and we wish him the utmost success in Lancaster.”

While in Danville, Jinks has served on the board of directors and as chair of the leadership development council of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of directors of Riverview Rotary Club and Smart Beginnings.  He was selected last year to serve on the Virginia Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council. He has also served on the National College Advisory Council, the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research’s Outreach Advisory Council, and the Cooperative Extension Leadership Council.

An executive search team composed of community leaders, board members, and key stakeholders has been appointed to find United Way’s next president.  “When United Way hired Patrick 10 years ago, we definitely selected the right leader at the right time in the history of our organization,” Liverman commented.  “I am confident that we will once again find the right candidate who will lead our United Way to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all.”

Jinks expressed gratitude for the opportunity he was given in Danville. “I owe this community and United Way organization a debt of gratitude for the opportunities and support I have been given here,” Jinks said.  “I have total optimism about what lies ahead for this community, and hope that in some way, I have contributed to its past progress and future success.”

Jinks will continue to serve as President/CEO of United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County until the end of December 2011.  An interim director will be appointed by the board to serve until a new president is hired.