51黑料网

Bell, CEO of the , will leave her post here the second week of July to return to Michigan, where she鈥檒l lead the Lansing-based .

Under Bell鈥檚 leadership, the foundation here became one of four recipients of a national award supporting 鈥渢wo-generation鈥� solutions to poverty that focuses on helping women in need as well as their children.

The $150,000 award from the Women鈥檚 Funding Network and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will help create public-private partnerships to bolster workforce development and career opportunities for low-income women. It will also increase access to quality child care and early childhood education.

Bell said her Tucson job 鈥渘ever felt like work.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 such an inspiring cause and this is such a great group of smart, smart individuals,鈥� she said of the foundation.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to see what they do with their next chapter.鈥�

During Bell鈥檚 time here, the foundation invested more than $700,000 that helped 9,286 women and girls increase their income and assets by $4.6 million through higher wages, decreased debt and increased savings. The foundation also helped 258 women find housing and 233 women find employment.

A nationwide search is underway to replace Bell, said Deb Dale, board chair for the foundation. People interested in applying can find details on the foundation website,

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e on a really good trajectory,鈥� Dale said. 鈥淪he made a significant impact in a short amount of time.鈥�

Thanks to Bell, the foundation had a presence at the Arizona Capitol for the first time, Dale said, and worked to secure more assistance and opportunities for working-poor mothers.

Bell鈥檚 other accomplishments include:

• More than two years ahead of schedule, the foundation reached its goal of raising $1 million in order to receive a matching donation from the Connie Hillman Family Foundation.
• The foundation increased its assets by 70 percent.
• The foundation tripled its annual operating revenue to $1.4 million through sustainable fund development.
• The foundation doubled its grant-making efforts.