Friends of UNFPA Announces Leadership Changes
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 01, 2016 -- Friends of UNFPA appointed Minh Ngo to Chair of the Board of Directors and announced that Melissa A. Kuklin will serve as Executive Director, effective immediately.
Bringing a wealth of executive management and board leadership experience to Friends of UNFPA, Ms. Ngo has served as the President of the 100 Women Charitable Foundation and actively serves on the board of directors of multiple non-profit organizations. Over the last decade, Ms. Ngo has raised millions in philanthropic contributions and social venture funds to support important social causes.
“Minh has a deep understanding of the complex fundraising challenges and leadership expertise for nonprofits,” said outgoing Board Chair of Friends of UNFPA, Wendy Cai-Lee. “Helping to fuel UNFPA’s efforts at changing the world not just for the women of today but for our children and our children’s children requires big picture thinking and dedication that Minh has demonstrated throughout her career.”
Ms. Ngo will oversee the strategic direction of Friends of UNFPA and will work and engage with innovative funding platforms to drive funds to UNFPA programs that support women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“I am humbled and gratified to build upon the success of Friends of UNFPA,” Ms. Ngo said. “With our support, UNFPA can continue to save the lives and build the futures of millions of women, children and families in developing countries.”
Melissa A. Kuklin, a close to 30-year veteran of the non-profit sector has accumulated a wealth of experience in organizational leadership and development having held leadership roles at Lincoln Center and Merrill Lynch. Ms. Kuklin has been with Friends of UNFPA since 2010, and most recently was Officer in Charge and Director of Development.
In her new role as Executive Director, Ms. Kuklin will lead Friends of UNFPA’s efforts to foster ongoing collaboration and mutual support for UNFPA’s lifesaving work. Together with UNFPA’s leadership, Ms. Kuklin and Friends of UNFPA will help build awareness and raise funds to support women and girls during humanitarian crises, reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, increase access to family planning services, and protect the rights of young people.
“Melissa’s impressive experience, organizational expertise, deep institutional knowledge of UNFPA and strong track record in the development space make her a stellar fit to serve as Executive Director,” Ms. Cai-Lee added. “The adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has ushered in a new era of development for all people everywhere, and Friends of UNFPA is now on the best footing to help UNFPA tackle these important and ambitious goals.”
“UNFPA expands the possibilities for some of the world’s most vulnerable women and girls,” said Ms. Kuklin. “I’ve seen firsthand the transformative value of investments in reproductive health and family planning and am committed to ensuring that Friends of UNFPA provides robust support for their efforts.”
About Friends of UNFPA
Friends of UNFPA was established in 1998. It is a non-profit organization, headquartered in New York, that supports the work of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. UNFPA is delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Friends of UNFPA advances this global effort by mobilizing funds and action for UNFPA’s lifesaving work.
Brian Franklin, The Wakeman Agency, +1 (703) 201-3875, [email protected]
Share this article