Patton Named New Executive Director

Wooster, Ohio: The Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) announces the selection of Sara (“Sally”) Patton as the organization’s new Executive Director. “The Foundation is at an exciting place in its 35 year history,” said Board President J.C. Johnston III, “and we feel Sara Patton is the right person to work with our Board to move the Foundation toward its strategic goals of building endowment so the Foundation can increase grant funding to the community. The Executive Director position is a key resource for the Foundation as we continue to explore and identify opportunities to fulfill our mission.”

Patton most recently served the College of Wooster as the Senior Advisor to the President for Development after a 32-year tenure as the Vice President for Development. In addition to raising more than $450 million for the College, Patton oversaw all aspects of development, alumni relations and marketing. She is a sought after fundraising consultant and an active panelist at development conferences across the nation. “Sally’s skills and longtime experience in fundraising make her uniquely qualified to take the reins of leadership at Wayne County’s only community foundation,” said Johnston. “Her expertise in fund development and management make her the perfect candidate to assume this top staff position. She is widely known and respected in our community.”

Patton succeeds Ferenc M. Relle, Jr., who served as the Executive Director since March 2007. Under Relle’s tenure, the Foundation increased in visibility throughout Wayne County and grew to over $51 million in assets and more than 335 separate funds to benefit the community The transition will begin in May, with Patton officially taking the reins on July 1st. She will be the fifth Executive Director in WCCF history.