Rejoining The Columbus Foundation to head special initiative
Columbus, OH (August 4, 2020)—The Columbus Foundation announced today that Dr. Amy Acton, former Director of the Department of Health for the State of Ohio, is joining its staff as Director of Kind Columbus, effective September 1, 2020.
Dr. Acton will be the first Director of this special Columbus Foundation initiative, which is dedicated to spreading the words and actions of kindness as a defining value for our region. Among the current programs that will be consolidated within Dr. Acton’s purview are the Foundation’s Gifts of Kindness and Acts of Kindness funds and investments, as well as the grantmaking to support kindness throughout our community. Further expansion of Kind Columbus is planned and will be led by Dr. Acton.
Amy is one of the most empathetic, caring people you could ever meet, and that became clear to people throughout Ohio during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is ideally suited for this work, and for our aspirations for it.
Douglas F. Kridler, President and CEO of The Columbus Foundation
For Dr. Acton, this is also a homecoming of sorts, as she was working as a Community Research and Grants Management Officer at the Foundation when she was recruited to the position of Director of the Department of Health.
“I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to serve the Governor and the people of Ohio,” Dr. Acton said. “For me, it was a privilege to try to be of help to the awesome team in the Department of Public Health and our extraordinary Governor and Lt. Governor, and to help give people a connection to each other, as we did all we could muster to save their lives and the lives of others. I am pleased to be returning to The Columbus Foundation to lead this investment in kindness as a valuable tool for community healing and progress.”
About The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation serves nearly 3,000 individuals, families, and businesses that have created unique funds and planned gifts to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. The Columbus Foundation is Your Trusted Philanthropic Advisor® and one of the top 10 largest community foundations in the United States.