Columbia, S.C. (August 6, 2018) – United Way Association of South Carolina’s (UWASC) Board of Directors has appointed Naomi Lett as its next President and CEO. Lett has been with the Association for eight years, most recently serving as Senior Director of Public Policy.
UWASC Board Chair Matt Hammond said, “Naomi has proven herself as a dedicated leader, working closely with the United Way network in South Carolina to build a strong coalition of community advocates. We’re excited about the future of the organization under her leadership.”
Lett will replace Ted Hendry, who has served as Interim CEO of the organization since April 2018. Hendry, who came out of retirement as the former CEO of United Way of Greenville County to serve in his current role, will guide Lett through the leadership transition. Lett will officially assume her new title on August 15.
Hendry remarked, “It has been an honor for me to serve the United Way Association during a time of transition for the organization. I am confident in Naomi’s leadership and the future of the Association, and I look forward to its continued success.”
During her three years leading UWASC’s public policy efforts, Lett traveled extensively to local United Ways across the state to learn more about the needs of South Carolina communities. She has cultivated a deep understanding of the challenges and strengths of each community.
“I believe in the power of local United Ways to transform their communities,” said Lett. “By utilizing policy to multiply the impact of community investment, we can find solutions to the problems faced by our state.”
After graduating from James Madison University, Lett joined the Peace Corps to serve in Niger, West Africa. She has more than 15 years of experience in the non-profit field, both in direct services and public policy. She joined UWASC in 2010 as the Director of Children Come First, a partner organization focused on child welfare advocacy and innovation. Her role included consultation on policy development for the then-burgeoning public policy arm of the Association’s efforts on behalf of local United Ways. Lett is a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow and an alumnus of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership. She was a recipient of the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award, and currently serves in the community as a board member for Katrina’s Kids and as an Innovation Advisor for the i3 Incubator at the University of South Carolina’s College of Social Work.
In her new role, Lett envisions the Association working on behalf of South Carolina’s 25 local United Ways to empower and elevate their strategic investments in health, education, and financial stability.
“United Ways serve as stewards of their community dollars by investing in programs that make a difference for our most vulnerable citizens,” Lett explained. “I see the work of the Association to be that of not only empowering and facilitating the advancement of their efforts, but broadly sharing their achievements at the state and national levels to maximize their impact.”
About United Way Association of South Carolina
United Way Association of South Carolina (UWASC) works to maximize the capacity and effectiveness of local United Ways and provide leadership on issues that impact the quality of life of South Carolina residents. For more information, visit www.UWASC.org.
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