The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania held its first board of directors meeting in State College on May 17.

Nine individuals were named to the Foundation’s board, including four dairy producers.

An executive committee will be selected at the board’s next regular meeting.

The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania was established in 2011 as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization to support educational initiatives that grow and sustain the Pennsylvania dairy industry.

The foundation provides the opportunity for individuals and organizations to make tax-deductible contributions to support educational initiatives within Pennsylvania’s dairy industry.

Board members include:

• Betsy Albright, Chief Financial Officer, Harrisburg Dairies, Inc.
• Carissa Westrick, Director Business Development, Vale Wood Farms in Loretto
• Frank Day, Vice President Commodity Operations, The Hershey Co.
• Gary Heim, Attorney, Persun & Heim, P.C.
• Gary Kline, Partner, Y-Run Farms LLC in Troy
• Jeff Harding, Senior Sales Representative, Elanco Animal Health
• John Frey, Executive Director, Center for Dairy Excellence
• Lolly Lesher, Owner, Way-Har Farms in Bernville
• Paula Meabon, Owner, Meabon Farms in Wattsburg

The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania, while a separate entity from the Center for Dairy Excellence, is positioned to support specific education initiatives. The charitable organization has been charged with the sole purpose of being a funding source for dairy education or research priorities at the center and other entities in Pennsylvania.

During the meeting, the board identified four priority areas for the foundation:

1. Youth Development
2. Continuing Education
3. Consumer Outreach
4. Market Development

Spending policies, funding sources and donor outreach initiatives were discussed during the meeting, with several committees established to further define the work of the foundation. The next board meeting will be held late summer, with plans to roll out a charter campaign in the fall of 2012.  PD

—From Center for Dairy Excellence news release

PHOTO
Photo courtesy of Center for Dairy Excellence.