ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Marci Lesko will become the next chief executive officer of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Currently the organization’s chief operating officer, Lesko will succeed President David Lewis, effective June 3.
Lewis is retiring after 36 years with United Way.
Lesko’s appointment was made a vote of the board of directors.
“I’m coming into the role laser-focused on deepening and expanding our work in education, healthy aging and community stability, and delivering the increased resources needed to achieve it.”Marci Lesko, who will become the next chief executive officer of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
“I’m humbled and honored to lead this outstanding organization and solidify United Way as the philanthropic home for donors in the region,” Lesko said.
“I’m coming into the role laser-focused on deepening and expanding our work in education, healthy aging and community stability, and delivering the increased resources needed to achieve it.”
Lesko first joined the local United Way in 2006. She has held positions of vice president of community impact, executive vice president, chief impact officer and corporate secretary.
She was appointed COO in 2023.
Lesko holds a graduate degree in organizational leadership and track has a record of turning donor investments into lasting results, a news release from the organization said.
She has transformed key areas of the organization, including impact, grants, data, communications, human resources and technology. She has been a national leader in collective impact, which she brought to the region in the early 2010s.
Lesko founded the highly successful and nationally recognized community schools model in the Lehigh Valley, and developed the results-based investment strategy United Way continues to follow today.
'Can't imagine anyone better'
Lewis led the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to triple revenue, to $28 million, during his years as president, solidifying it as the top performing local United Way in a network of about 1,000 local affiliates.
“I can’t imagine anyone better than Marci to continue the growth we’ve seen over the past decade,” Lewis said.
“The Greater Lehigh Valley is so unique, because people here care so much about helping their neighbors. They really embrace the power of collaboration.”
United Way Board of Directors Chair Dorota Gasienica-Kozak praised Lesko’s record of getting results.
“The community needs a strong United Way that brings partners together around a shared purpose,” Gasienica-Kozak said.
As we look to the future, all the data is telling us the community needs in education, housing and mental health are climbing. Let's get to work."Marci Lesko, incoming CEO of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
“David Lewis has unlocked the organization’s potential over his 10 years as president. Marci is perfectly positioned to take us to the next level. She knows the community, the United Way, the donors and knows how to get results.”
Lesko was equally effusive regarding Lewis’s work.
“It’s hard to even quantify the impact David has made,” she said. “Suffice to say, tens of thousands of people have directly benefited from his work here. The community is better today because of him.
“As we look to the future, all the data is telling us the community needs in education, housing and mental health are climbing.
"We know that our donors and partners are ready to be part of the solution. Let’s get to work.”
