Foundation CEO Selected as Citizen of the Year

Waterloo – Rosemary Smith, CEO of The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) has been selected as the 2009 Citizen of the Year for Kitchener-Waterloo.

Hosted by the Lions Club of Kitchener, the Citizen of the Year Award recognizes a deserving resident from the Kitchener and Waterloo area.

“I am both humbled and honoured to be chosen for this prestigious award,” says Rosemary Smith.

First presented to Ira Needles in 1957, Rosemary’s name will be added to a long list of esteemed nominees and community visionaries such as Walter Bean, Jack Harper, Susan Harkins, Brian Ruby, and Mac Voisin.

Rosemary has a long history of leadership in our community. She has sat on numerous boards and committees including Chair of both the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce, K-W YMCA Board, Steering Committee for the Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network, Creative Intersection Resource Task Force, Steering Committee for Leadership Waterloo Region, and Opportunities Waterloo Region’s Leadership Roundtable, to name a few.

Since taking over as Executive Director and subsequently CEO with The KWCF in 2001, Rosemary has led The Foundation with projects like Waterloo Region’s Vital Signs and Random Act of Kindness Day. Her relationship building and networking has resulted in many new funds being established and thus more dollars invested in community initiatives.

“Rosemary has her finger on the pulse of our community,” says David Yach, Chair of The KWCF. “Her uncanny ability to bring individuals and groups together to work for the common good is unparalleled. She is a true community builder.”

A banquet to celebrate the 2009 Citizen of the Year will be held on Thursday, May 6th. For more information visit www.lionsclubofkitchener.com or call (519) 742-0405.