France-Merrick Foundation

The Village of Cross Keys | Quadrangle East 2 Hamill Road | Suite 302 Baltimore, Maryland 21210-1813
410-464-2004 | 410-464-2001 (fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Patti Sterling, 410-464-2004 psterling@france-merrickfdn.org

The France-Merrick Foundation names Amy Gross as next Executive Director BALTIMORE (May 7, 2013). The France-Merrick Foundation announced today the appointment of Amy Michelle Gross as the foundations Executive Director, replacing Robert W. Schaefer, who is retiring. Ms. Gross is currently a Program Director at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. She will assume her new duties at the France-Merrick Foundation on June 10, 2013. It is a bittersweet time for our foundation, said Wally Pinkard, President of the FranceMerrick Foundation. We are losing a leader who has been rock solid for each of the past seventeen years. At the same time we are gaining, in Amy Gross, a seasoned professional, with keen insights on many of our foundations areas of focus. She has taken on leadership responsibilities throughout her career. We are particularly impressed by Amys collaborative approach and her demonstrated capacity to grow professionally. Our foundation Board and staff all look forward to having Amy join our team in a leadership capacity. Ms. Gross has been a Program Director at The Weinberg Foundation since 2006, most recently focusing upon education, children, youth and families. She had a lead role in the creation of the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project, a collaboration involving 12 Baltimore City Public School libraries, with over 30 partners and leveraging $17 million in public and private funds. She currently chairs the Education Affinity Group for The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. Her prior experience includes being Director of Community Initiatives at THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and Director of the Community Relations Council for the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island. With a certificate in Urban Education from Johns Hopkins University Graduate School of Education, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida. I am honored to have been selected by the France-Merrick Foundation to serve as their Executive Director, said Amy Gross. I am excited to be part of, and help build upon, the Foundations legacy in the community. I am grateful for my time at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation where I was able to see how philanthropy can positively impact individuals and communities with capable leadership. In my new role with the

France-Merrick Foundation, I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, Foundation staff, and community stakeholders to continue to impact Baltimore and the Foundations important constituents. Mr. Pinkard commented: We are very appreciative for the support of The Weinberg Foundation, and its CEO, Rachel Monroe, in particular, for having endorsed Amy as a candidate for Executive Director of our Foundation. Their commitment to building the talent base of Baltimores philanthropic community is impressive. Rachel Garbow Monroe, president of The Weinberg Foundation, stated, "Amy Gross has worked for the Weinberg Foundation with distinction since 2006 as the program director responsible for grantmaking in the areas of education, children, youth, and families. During that time Amy managed hundreds of grants while also supporting and enriching the Foundation's strategic vision and goals. Among many noteworthy contributions, Amy helped conceive and launch the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project, also known as the Weinberg Library Project. Amy has represented the Foundation with professionalism in all she has done. We will miss her and we congratulate her on this exciting new opportunity." ###

About The France-Merrick Foundation: Reflecting the interests of its founders, Jacob & Anita France and Robert & Anne Merrick, the France-Merrick Foundation has worked since 1959 to improve the quality of life in the Greater Baltimore region by focusing its giving in five priority areas: civic & culture, community development, education, health & human welfare, and historic preservation & conservation. With assets currently at just over $200M, France-Merrick is the fourth largest charitable foundation headquartered in Baltimore.