Deirdre Gelinne Announces Retirement
Westfield United Fund
The Westfield United Fund recently announced that Executive Director Deirdre Gelinne plans to retire from the community nonprofit organization in July after more than a decade of distinguished leadership and dedicated service.
Gelinne was appointed Executive Director in February 2012 succeeding Linda Maggio who led the organization for 38 years. Gelinne moved to Westfield in 1993 to raise her family along with husband Dave following a career in banking. She was recruited by former Board Trustee Wendy Cozzi as a volunteer for the annual WUF donor telethon and later applied for the open Executive Director position. Under Gelinne’s leadership over the last decade, the Fund has succeeded in raising more than $6 million including proceeds raised to date in the 2022-2023 campaign.
“These past 11 years have been truly rewarding for me and I am grateful to the many residents of Westfield for their generosity in supporting our work year after year,” said Gelinne. “We continue to adapt to the changing needs of our community through our support of longstanding agency partners like the Westfield Y along with newer agencies like Imagine and Moms Helping Moms.”
Gelinne has a distinguished record of volunteer service in the community with a broad range of organizations including Friends of Mindowaskin Park, the College Women’s Club of Westfield, the pedestrian safety group BRAKES. She also served on the PTO Boards of both Wilson Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School. Currently, Gelinne is serving in her fifth year as Co-Chair of Lifelong Westfield, a group working to improve the lives of seniors in the community.
“Deirdre has served as the face of the Westfield United Fund to our community for more than a decade and we are indebted to her for the time, energy and unwavering commitment she has dedicated to leading our organization,” said Paul Fitzhenry, President of the Board of Trustees.
The Fund has formed a search committee to consider candidates to succeed Gelinne as Executive Director. A position description will be posted for people interested in learning more about the role. For more information, contact Gelinne atdgelinne@westfieldunitedfund.org
The Westfield United Fund is an independent, grassroots organization that has played a vital role in strengthening the local community for more than 80 years by directly funding agencies that provide essential services to the most vulnerable members of our community.
