Bucks County United Way Gets New CEO In Its Former Chief Development Officer

The United Way of Bucks County has its first woman in the CEO chair, the organization announced Monday.

Marissa Christie, the chief development officer of United Way Bucks County, has been named chief executive officer of the organization.

The United Way Bucks County (UWBC) Board of Directors unanimously selected Christie to lead the organization after the departure of current CEO Jamie Haddon for a position in the private sector.

Christie joined the organization in 2010 and has played a key role in many of the organization’s successes, including coordinating the move to a Collective Impact funding approach, developing Bucks Knocks Out Hunger and growing the #girlSTEM Conference, the organization said in a press release.

“The Board of Directors is very happy that Marissa has assumed the leadership of United Way Bucks County,” Chairman of the Board of Directors Brian Jeter said in a statement. “During her six years, she has truly helped UWBC bring people together for the greater good. Her accomplishments are numerous and we look forward to more successes under her leadership.”

Prior to joining United Way Bucks County, Marissa was community relations manager for Barnes & Noble and a sales and marketing coordinator for Scholastic New Zealand. She is a graduate of American University and is the first woman to lead United Way Bucks County, according to the organization.

“I am grateful beyond words for this opportunity,” Christie said in a statement. “Together with my colleagues, our board, and the donors, advocates, and volunteers who support United Way, we've accomplished a lot over the past few years. With the continued support of the community, my team and I will build on these successes.”

Haddon joined United Way Bucks County in 2012. He helped the organization develop collaborative programs that met the needs of Bucks County residents and strengthened the position of UWBC in the community, according to a press release.

“I am proud of the impact the team at UWBC has had,” Haddon said in a statement. “It is never easy to leave a great organization but I know Marissa will do great things for the Bucks County community.”

United Way Bucks County will invest more than $2.6 million in 2017 to help address challenges such as food insecurity and affordable housing, according to a press release. One in 10 county residents and 16 percent of all children are food insecure. About 40 percent of children in the county live in rent-burdened households as families struggle to find affordable housing. Some children in low- and moderate-income households miss opportunities for quality, early childhood education, the organization said.

The organization has work to do and will need resources to be successful, Christie said.

“The mission of United Way means so much to me. We work hard to build connections in our community,” she said in a statement. “We connect people who want to help with people who need care. We mobilize resources and direct them to the right places. We provide opportunities because we know that we are all connected. It matters to us – and to me personally – that people can lead healthy and prosperous lives. We are all better off when the people in our community succeed."

Image via United Way of Bucks County Facebook