April 7, 2004

Prominent National Community and Business Leader Named Next Chief Executive of United Way of Massachusetts Bay

BOSTON - Milton J. Little, Jr., former executive vice president and chief operating officer of the National Urban League, has been named the next president and chief executive officer of United Way of Massachusetts Bay (UWMB). Mr. Little will assume his new position in mid-July. He will begin transition planning with Marian L. Heard, current UWMB president and chief executive officer in June. Heard will be retiring in July after 30 years of service to United Way.

After a six-month national search conducted by a 13-member UWMB Board appointed search committee, Mr. Little was unanimously voted to take the reins of the community impact organization this summer. Led by William Van Faasen, chairman, president and CEO of BlueCrossBlueShield of Massachusetts, the search committee worked in conjunction with the executive search firm of Russell Reynolds. The committee worked diligently to identify a senior-level executive with extensive experience in creating and leading long-term systemic solutions that the community can embrace, as UWMB sharpens its focus in the areas of child and youth development, housing, and employment.

Cathy E. Minehan, president and chief executive officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and chair of the UWMB Board, said, "Milton Little brings an array of management experiences and enthusiasm to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay that make him a wonderful successor to Marian Heard. He has shown in his work that he embraces our mission of improving people's lives by reducing the barriers that keep them from realizing their full potential. I am confident that he will build on Marian's strong contributions and lead our United Way as an effective force for positive change in our community."

"I am thrilled to accept the opportunity of leading this distinguished organization. I've had a great deal of success creating real change at the national level, now I hope to apply those strategies here - positively affecting the lives of individuals living in the communities of greater Boston," said Milton J. Little, Jr. "Marian Heard has built a strong foundation supporting the most dynamic approaches for investing in individuals. Building upon this great tradition, I look forward to working with the Board, community partners, the business community and public officials to meet the challenges that lie ahead."

According to Hugh Price, former president of the National Urban League, Little is an exceptional choice. "Milton is a fantastic person. Not only is he very smart and seasoned, he has a keen understanding of the issues facing today's communities. He has the knowledge, the experience and the integrity to lead such a critical agency in a critical time."

Reynold Levy, president of Lincoln Center, who worked with Mr. Little at the AT & T Foundation applauded the selection. "Milton is exceptionally strong. He brings boundless energy and solid skills that will take United Way to the next level. Milton's appointment bodes well for the citizens of greater Boston."

"I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with Milton for many years and I am thrilled to hear that he's been named the new chief executive of United Way of Mass Bay," said Joan Wallace-Benjamin, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer for The Home for Little Wanderers and former president & chief executive officer of The Urban League of Massachusetts. "At the National Urban League, Milton was tireless in his commitment to helping those in need by lobbying against racism, creating workforce and education programs and building national partnerships. The UWMB Board has delivered a very exciting new leader to our community."

About United Way of Mass Bay
United Way of Massachusetts Bay, a nonprofit organization with a proven track record for helping individuals achieve their own limitless potential, is the largest United Way in New England. It is our priority to effect positive change by reducing the barriers to social and economic opportunity, especially for children and families with multiple vulnerabilities. Investments are targeted to four interdependent areas: Healthy Child Development, Increasing Youth Opportunities, Sustainable Employment, Affordable Housing. Through public policy, volunteer mobilization, and by raising and guiding the investment of over $40 million dollars annually in a diverse portfolio of community based organizations, we open the doors to social and economic opportunity. As one of 1,400 locally governed and independently operated United Ways, we embrace a national movement to create measurable impact in our community. For more information, please visit uwmb.org.

Milton James Little, Jr.
Mr. Little is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years experience in the public and private sectors. He is Senior Partner of Gibson Little Associates, a firm specializing in strategic planning, marketing, public relations and strategic philanthropy.

Mr. Little previously served at Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and CEO of the National Urban League in New York. He was responsible for the day-to-day management of a $40 million annual budget and all of the agency's internal affairs; development and implementation of the League's strategic and programmatic plans; financial management and oversight; operations, administration, and staff management and development. He also launched innovative partnerships with the US Department of Labor, US Department of Commerce, US Department of Housing and Urban Development and corporations like Verizon, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AT&T, Enterprise Rent A Car and Prudential. Mr. Little was also publisher of the League's highly acclaimed magazine, Opportunity Journal, and a delegate to the NGO Forum of the 2001 World Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa. He has appeared before several Congressional committees, delivered numerous keynote speeches and conference addresses, and authored numerous articles on topics ranging from civil rights and social justice to education, economic and community development, minority health disparities, technology, and philanthropy.

Mr. Little appeared on numerous television and radio programs including ABC News, NBC News, CNN, Fox News Channel, BET Nightly News, and local broadcasts and cable news programs. He also delivered weekly radio commentary for the National Urban League broadcast nationally and locally in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Detroit, Memphis, Houston and other cities.

Prior to his tenure at the National Urban League, Mr. Little worked at Lucent Technologies, Inc. and its predecessor, AT&T. At Lucent he was co-creator of the Lucent Technologies Foundation and its global community relations program. The philanthropic programs and strategies he developed during his time at AT&T are the forerunners of many existing programs that today are reducing disparities in employment, income, education and health in communities across the United States.

Mr. Little is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA in 1976 with a B.A. in Sociology. He also earned an M.A. in Urban Sociology and Social Policy from Columbia University in New York in 1978 and pursued additional post-graduate studies in Public Administration at New York University.

Mr. Little's professional and board affiliations have included The Council on Foreign Relations, the Federal Communications Commission's Telecommunications Advisory Committee, President Clinton and President George W. Bush's President's Committee on the Employment of People With Disabilities, JP Morgan/Chase Housing Advisory Council, the AT&T Consumer Strategy and Issues Council, the National Governors Association Information Technology Advisory Committee, the Information Technology Association of America Minority Advisory Council, the American Society of Association Executives, New York City Outward Bound Center, One Economy Corporation, and the Cuban American National Council. Mr. Little has been recognized for his professional and civic accomplishments by, among others, the Federal Communications Communication, AT&T, National Urban League, LINKS (Los Angeles), National Council of Negro Women, and the Mayor of the City of Portsmouth, VA.

Mr. Little resides in Maplewood, New Jersey. He is married to Traci Gibson Little and the father of two boys, Milton and Taylor.

Media inquires should contact:
Jeff Bellows
Phone: 617-624-8250
Fax: 617-624-9114
E-mail: jbellows@uwmb.org