Page 30 - Chester County Chamber - 2024 Guide & Membership Directory

EDUCATION &
LEADERSHIP
In line with this goal, the Community
Foundation runs a program called Get
On Board, which trains emerging Chester
County leaders to become nonprofit
board members. “We provide support
to those emerging leaders with a coach
who can help them through that process,
because there’s a lot to learn,” Krallis said. “If
nonprofit boards are filled with educated
and diverse people of different ages and
career backgrounds, they’ll do great work
in the community.”
Get On Board
Going forward, the Community Foundation
will be involved in educational efforts
surrounding upcoming celebrations for
America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. “This
is in partnership with Chester County
government,” Krallis said. “We’re running
monthly programming to get people
excited and get the word out to nonprofits,
businesses, schools and media outlets.
Everyone can play a role in this celebration
of our country’s history and heritage.”
Learn more at chescocf.org.
LEADERSHIP CHESTER
COUNTY: An Education for
Qualified Professionals
For more than 20 years, the United Way of
Chester County has facilitated a program
that trains Chester County professionals to
serve on the boards of local nonprofits.
Working in partnership with the Chester
County Chamber of Business & Industry
and West Chester University, Leadership
Chester County (LCC) offers its participants
an education in important topics such as
board governance, fiduciary responsibility,
community awareness, and diversity and
inclusion. The annual program meets one
full weekday a month from October to May
of the following year.
“Area nonprofits need qualified
professionals to serve on their boards,” said
Kelly Cockshaw, Director of Leadership &
Innovation at the United Way of Chester
County. “In addition, there are a lot of
people who are passionate about making a
difference, but don’t know what’s involved
in being on a nonprofit board. LCC enables
participants to channel their skills and gifts
in ways that best serve the community.”
The program’s impact has been
tremendous: since its inception, it has had
541 graduates, 143 employer sponsors, and
435 nonprofits have benefited from LCC
graduates on their boards or as staff.
The Chester County Chamber was a
co-founder of LCC and has been a valuable
partner ever since then, Cockshaw said.
“They help us promote and recruit for LCC.
They are a great resource for getting the
Find Your
COMMUNITY
YMCA of Greater Brandywine
dedicated to strengthening community and partners with
organizations and individuals to provide programming
and offerings centered around the pillars of youth
development, healthy living and social responsibility.
There is something for everyone at the YMCA.
ymcagbw.org
28 Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry