Kevin Ressler, who has led United Way of Lancaster County since January 2020, is leaving to become CEO of the Alliance for Health Equity, a nonprofit based in Coatesville, Chester County.
Ressler, who turns 39 this month, will leave United Way at the end of June. The board hopes to recruit his successor relatively quickly; if necessary, an interim CEO will be appointed.
As president and CEO of United Way of Lancaster County, Ressler steered it through a three-year period that included the coronavirus pandemic, the most devastating disease outbreak in the United States in a century.
In the pandemic’s early months, United Way partnered with the Lancaster County Community Foundation to raise $1 million to assist local nonprofits in providing services to the community amid spiking unemployment and economic insecurity. In summer 2020, it joined with the Steinman Foundation to launch the Lancaster Partnership for Learning Equity.
Other notable initiatives during his tenure include the Level Up & Launch grant program; the relaunch of Project Blueprint, a professional development program to increase the diversity of board representation; and the debut of this publication, One United Lancaster.
“I am deeply honored to have led, in my own community, one of the most impactful important nonprofits that there is, in United Way of Lancaster County,” Ressler said.
He noted that it has seen three consecutive years of revenue increase through 2022.
“We’ve increased our programs and services that we provide directly, as well as continued to support organizations doing innovative solutions,” he said. “I’m excited about the fact that we have put this organization in a position for success and continued growth.”
In a statement, United Way of Lancaster County board Chairman Stephen Nieli said the board bids farewell to Ressler with “mixed emotions.”
“While we are saddened to see Kevin leave, we are grateful for the dedicated service and leadership that he has provided to our organization and the Lancaster community,” he said.
The board wishes Ressler the best, and appreciates his expressed interest in continued involvement with United Way as a donor and volunteer, Nieli said.
At the Alliance for Health Equity, Ressler will succeed interim President and CEO Nicholas Torres.
The Alliance for Health Equity was created in 2001 as a health conversion foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the charitable work of a community hospital, in this case the Brandywine Hospital, after it is sold.
Its footprint is the Coatesville Area School District, where it focuses on heath equity, racial equity and education. It distributes about $1.2 million in grants annually. A few weeks ago, it opened the Equity Health Center in downtown Coatesville.
Prior to joining United Way, Ressler was executive director of Meals on Wheels of Lancaster.
(Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to add comment from United Way of Lancaster County board Chairman Stephen Nieli.)
