New Board Chair, Members Announced For Friends Of Nathaniel Witherell

GREENWICH, CT — Jeff Aldrich, founder, president and CEO of the Aldrich Group, Inc. and a native of Greenwich, has been named chairman of the board of the Friends of Nathaniel Witherell, an independent, non-profit charitable organization that raises funds to enhance the quality of life of the Nathaniel Witherell’s skilled-nursing care residents and short-term rehab patients.

Aldrich succeeds former chair David G. Ormsby, who founded the Friends in 2007 and successfully spearheaded the Project Renew capital campaign that raised millions of dollars to update and modernize the Witherell facility. Aldrich assumed his new role on Feb. 21.

Also announced was the election to the Friends’ board of four new members: Michael Guido, managing director, business development of the Commonfund Group in Wilton, a nonprofit investment manager for public sector and private organizations; Beth Krumeich a corporate attorney and vice president of the board of directors of At Home in Greenwich, and a former member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation; Blaise Punturo a real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty in Greenwich and fundraiser for the Columbus Citizens Foundation; and Sally Van Leeuwen, former analyst for CBS-TV and volunteer coordinator for Friends.

Continuing on the board are Bea Crumbine, fondly referred to as Greenwich’s "Ambassador-at-Large," whose extensive board and community service are legendary; and Fred S. C. Li, a biomedical engineer and owner and vice president of HLK Services Limited, an engineering and procurement company in Greenwich.

In his initial remarks to the board, Aldrich thanked Ormsby for his dedication, vision, and outstanding service to the Friends, and commented on the unique position FNW holds in the community:

"I love the very idea of the Friends as a charity – giving social enrichment and joy to people in the transitional stages of their lives – and as a business and value-added adjunct in service to The Nathaniel Witherell," Aldrich said, according to a news release. "Importantly, I believe that the concept ‘No Margin, No Mission’ should be the organizing principle for all care-giving nonprofits. It reminds us that it is okay for a hospital or nursing home to be fiscally responsible and make decent margins. In fact, it’s imperative."

Aldrich also made note of the special relationship between the Friends and the Witherell, which is owned and operated by the town of Greenwich.

"I believe this is a true public-private partnership, one I wholeheartedly embrace. It’s one of the things that distinguishes the Nathaniel Witherell from other skilled nursing facilities."

Aldrich announced that he is presently developing an ambitious plan, which he calls his "Strategic Intent for the Future," one that the entire board, with their valuable expertise and professionalism, will collaborate on as he believes they are "doers first and donors second," adding, "I want to build on the very solid legacy that David and many others established here and take us to new heights."

He said his goals are to expand the Friends revenue base by more aggressively cultivating and soliciting corporate, foundation, and other funders; touting the Friends’ important message and mission; and improving and expanding the Friends’ internal infrastructure and staffing.

"I am inspired by all that we can accomplish together as a special services charitable organization, delivering distinctive life-enhancing services to the residents of the Nathaniel Witherell, and ultimately, to the community-at-large," Aldrich said.

Ormsby noted: "Jeff’s executive recruitment expertise and commitment to Friends is a special opportunity for Friends to build its presence in the community and expand its reach to encourage charitable contributions to this treasure of our Town."