Amy French believes that building community connections and contributing to her surroundings is ingrained in her DNA.
While growing up in New England, her family was ultra-engaged in its community and her sister later began a career as a social worker. French has an abundance of experience with outreach programs, and since this past March 4 she’s been a local fixture as the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation (MIYFSF) executive director.
French, who was passed the executive director’s baton from integral longtime foundation member Laura Oberto, has thrived in the strategic planning and marketing realms during her career, which included key positions at nonprofits Committee for Children and White Center Food Bank along with Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria.
Upon French’s hiring, Debbi Gillotti, president of the MIYFSF board of directors, noted: “Certainly, we have big shoes to fill with Laura stepping down (to spend more time with her family) but are delighted to have someone with Amy’s impressive background joining us. Amy is really excited about the opportunity and looks forward to meeting our key stakeholders and supporters in the very near future.”
The West Seattle resident has interacted with and discussed the foundation’s mission with a host of locals since she assumed her new role, including the rotary club, chamber of commerce, Mercer Island High School business students/community partners, attendees at the Juneteenth Community Celebration and more.
On the Juneteenth gathering, she noted: “We were sharing a lot of parenting resources because it was an event that we expect a lot of families to be at. We had some emotion charts that were really fun to share and to talk through with families. It was a good opportunity to just connect with people and see the energy of the community coming together for an important event.”
Other crucial community programs coming from YFS’s hands are a food security partnership with HopeLink with their Mobile Food Market, senior support groups, school mental health counselors, a hugely supportive partnership with the thrift shop and more.
French is impressed with how active, engaged community members and organizations are intertwined and continuously working toward making life better for others.
“It’s a fun community role to be able to get out and really get to know people and be part of a community that is thriving,” she said. YFS has been lending a supportive hand for more than 50 years and the foundation was established in 1989 to increase private funding toward YFS.
A famous quote from cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead is appropriate for the work that French is involved with on the Island, she said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Each day at work and in her personal life, French said she aims to touch upon kindness, connection and contribution. Mercer Island-connected friends spoke highly of YFS, and that praise of the “beloved” organization is what drew her toward the Island job at the foundation.
For more information, visit: https://miyfs.org/
