The Wyomissing Foundation, established in 1927 by the industrialist Ferdinand Thun, has been an important organization in the promotion of catalytic efforts to enhance the Berks County community through funding and leadership in the areas of education, the environment, health and human services and, particularly in recent years, in economic and community development.
After 12 years as President of The Wyomissing Foundation, Karen A. Rightmire is stepping down and Patricia C. Giles has been appointed to the position effective July 1, 2022.
Ms. Rightmire will remain on the staff of the Foundation as the Senior Strategy Officer.
Ms. Mary Kargbo, the Chair of the Board, announced the transition after a recent unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees.
“We thank Karen for her many years of dedicated service, and we congratulate Pat on her new position,” said Ms. Kargbo. “We have been fortunate to have two individuals with extensive nonprofit experience and they have enriched the Foundation’s work. The transition of leadership has been planned for some time and we have confidence that the Foundation is poised to continue its momentum under Pat’s leadership”.
Ms. Rightmire has had a long career in the health and human service field. She served as the Executive Director of the Community Child Care Program and later the Executive Director of Community and Human Services under the BCIU and the President of United Way of Berks County, holding both positions for approximately 20 years each. She has served on the Albright College Board of Trustees, the VIST Bank Board, the Reading Hospital Board and currently sits on the Tower Health Board and the Reading Hospital Foundation Board.
Ms. Giles has held various volunteer and professional nonprofit leadership positions in Berks County and beyond. Before joining The Wyomissing Foundation staff in 2017, she spent 17 years at United Way of Berks County as Executive Vice President and Chief Impact Officer. Prior to that, she spent five years as Director of Grants and Programs at Berks County Community Foundation. She currently serves as a Trustee of Alvernia University and as a Board member of Berks Community Health Center. She previously provided Board leadership to a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Junior League of Reading, Association of Junior Leagues International and Planned Parenthoods of Berks County and Northeast PA.
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