The Board of Trustees of the Ruth Mott Foundation has appointed Handy Lindsey, Jr. to be the Foundation’s next President commencing September 1, 2014. Lindsey is a well-respected philanthropic leader with over 30 years of experience with the Chicago Community Trust, the East St. Louis Community Foundation, the Field Foundation of Illinois, which he directed for 15 years, and the Cameron Foundation in Petersburg, Virginia, where he served as its inaugural chief executive officer from 2004 to 2013.
“We are thrilled to welcome Handy to Flint and to the Ruth Mott Foundation,” Board Chair, Maryanne Mott, stated. “Handy has a wealth of knowledge about family foundations, community foundations, and the larger world of philanthropy where he is regarded as a mentor and trailblazer. Many of the communities where Handy has worked share characteristics similar to Genesee County, Michigan,” Ms. Mott noted.
Mr. Lindsey earned his bachelor degree from the University of Chicago and also holds an MA degree from the School of Social Service Administration and an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. He served for seven years as a Commissioner for the Chicago Housing Authority, was on the board of directors of the Council on Foundations, led Grantmakers for Effective Organizations as its chairman, and also served as vice chairman of the Association of Black Foundation Executives.
Lawrence Moon, a Trustee of the Foundation and a Flint business leader, stated that “Handy Lindsey has the education, experience and enterprise to lead the Board and the Staff of the Ruth Mott Foundation to continue and enhance its positive impact on the Flint community, but most importantly, Handy has a real passion for this work and he knows how to listen and respond to community needs and priorities.”
“It’s an honor to be chosen as the next President of the Ruth Mott Foundation,” Lindsey declared. “Working with this Board of dedicated Trustees and a remarkably talented Staff will be a privilege, and I look forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with our partners throughout the Greater Flint region as we work together to build a stronger and healthier community.”
The Ruth Mott Foundation, created in 1999 upon the passing of Mrs. Mott, operates Applewood, the 34-acre Mott family estate and gardens, and engages in grantmaking to maintain and enhance the vitality of Flint. The Foundation envisions communities of hope and pride, whose neighborhood environments and urban core are safe, attractive and healthy, enriched by cultural diversity and an engaged citizenry.
