Dona Young, a West Virginia resident who is the former chief executive officer of the Phoenix Companies, has been elected to Save the Children’s Board of Trustees, the global humanitarian and relief organization announced today.
Save the Children’s Board of Trustees is comprised of a committed group of 34 individuals who are dedicated to Save the Children’s mission of creating lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world.
Young, who resides in White Sulphur Springs, retired as chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Phoenix Companies, an insurance and asset management company, after a nearly 30-year career. She was among the first women to serve as general counsel of a financial services company, and later as its chairman, president and CEO, and one of only 24 women CEOs of Fortune 1000 companies, at the time of her retirement in 2008. During her career, she took particular care in elevating succession planning, grooming internal talent and positioning a number of people in expanded senior roles.
“With her history of leadership and talent development, Dona is a great asset to our Board of Trustees,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children. “I am happy to welcome her on board, and honored someone with her dedication has joined Save the Children and its commitment to providing development and emergency assistance to children and families in need.”
Young has been on the boards of public companies and not-for-profits as well. She has received many awards and recognition from the United Way, The Boys and Girls Clubs, Food Share of Greater Hartford and the National Conference of Community and Justice.
“I am honored to join the Board of Save the Children and to support its work in improving the health, education and wellbeing of children around the world. Save the Children’s work in rural America touches my home state of West Virginia, and its work in emergency and crisis situations recognizes the special needs of children that are too often overlooked when tragedy and natural disaster strike,” said Young.
Save the Children is dedicated to giving children the opportunity to grow in a safe environment and to have access to health care and education, and Young says the non-profit’s efforts are crucial.
“Children are our future and I can’t think of a more meaningful way to help our collective future than by supporting Save the Children’s critically important work.”
Young received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Drew University, in Madison, N.J., and her doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She has received distinguished alumni awards from both schools. She is also a 2012 Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University.
Young and her husband, Roland Young III, have three grown children.
About Save the Children
Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in more than 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and learn more at www.SavetheChildren.org.
