The Board of Directors of the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Peggy LaFleur as its Executive Director. The Executive Director of the Society is a new position that is the first executive staff position ever appointed to work specifically on Society affairs. It represents another step in a concerted effort to reimagine and reinvigorate the organization as it enters its second century. Per Board President Lynne Williams “As part of our 100th anniversary observance,, our Board has developed a vision for the next century that ensures financial sustainability, diversifies membership and expands programs in addition to the Children’s Clinic, which is currently a program of the Society providing medical, dental and behavioral health care to more than 3,300 children every year. As we look toward our second 100 years, we will remain focused on the health and well-being of underserved children in Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities, by serving even more children through the identification of unmet needs and responding with services to meet these needs. Our commitment to further our mission and to care for more children reinforces our continuing investment in the future of children in this area.”
Williams further noted that, “Leadership is critical to fulfilling our vision and in strengthening our organizational structure. Peggy LaFleur will be tasked with building growth to sustain us into our next centennial. We are thrilled with this milestone as we move toward redefining and reimagining the future of the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society. We are very fortunate to have recruited an individual of such caliber and expertise to lead our organization into the future.”
Peggy LaFleur is a resident of Oak Park and has an impressive background in fundraising, marketing, strategic planning, management and business development in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She is also fluent in Spanish and brings considerable experience in healthcare to the Society.Peggy received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois Chicago; earned a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Boston College. Most recently she was with Loyola University Medical Center where she served as Senior Director, Major Gifts. Previously, Peggy served as Vice President of Global Marketing for RR Donnelley & Sons.
LaFleur commented on her new role, “Caring for the underserved is something I strongly believe in. We are nothing without our health, and ensuring that every single member of our community is healthy is how we can prosper as a whole.” When asked about her plans, she added, “Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society has significant growth aspirations in terms of members and volunteers, philanthropic support, and program expansion to help more children through more programs like the IWS Children’s Clinic. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this organization in achieving its growth aspirations for the second century. We are looking forward to cultivating and engaging a much larger and diverse membership than ever before.”
The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society is a diverse member-driven organization committed to the health and well-being of children. The Society unites dedicated members and volunteers, a highly competent professional staff, generous donors, engaged partners and enlightened communities behind the shared belief that sustaining our children’s health is a critical investment in the future.
For more information please contact the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society by phone 708-848-0528, email info@oprfiws.org or online www.oprfiws.org.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HEALTHY KIDS
In 1916, a group of women from the Oak Park River Forest community banded together to help stop a local crisis. Infants, particularly newborns, were getting seriously ill from drinking contaminated milk. The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society began in an effort to provide these babies and their mothers with clean, healthy milk. In the century since, the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society has grown into a well respected organization that provides quality health care for children from birth to age 18. Its unique model of care focused on the whole child – providing dental, medical and behavioral health services – has been lauded as one to emulate.