Randy Walainis transitions from Executive Director to Board President; Foundation hires first female Executive Director.
Detroit, MI – 11/1/2021
After more than a decade of service as Executive Director and 35 years as a Board Member of Metro Health Foundation, Randy Walainis, has retired from his staff role and transitioned to Board President effective August 1, 2021.
Walainis saw the organization through the pivotal times surrounding the signing into law of the Affordable Care Act, having participated in advocacy efforts to underscore the necessity of universal healthcare and greater access to medical homes in Metro Detroit and beyond. Board Vice President Cheryl L. Chandler states, “The Metro Health Foundation Board is grateful beyond words to Randy for his 35 years of leadership, both as a founding Trustee and as Executive Director of MHF. As Executive Director, he led with unbridled passion for helping others, endless vision, meaningful purpose, flexibility to meet the current but ever-changing needs of other non-profits and a focus on collaboration. He always had his eye on “doing a lot with a little” and consistently guided the Board in that direction. The impact of his work on the non-profit community will be long remembered. The Board is also very pleased that he will continue channeling his passion and vision for MHF as its President.”
Coming into the role of Executive Director of Metro Health Foundation is Ruth Rashid Kaleniecki, who had served a year on the Board of Trustees and then was Program Consultant to the foundation for the past three years. “It has been my privilege to serve Metro Health Foundation in my evolving roles I look forward to deeper engagement in charting its path for the future. Our collective experience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that health care access is lacking for many in Metro Detroit. Metro Health Foundation has been an important champion throughout its history in improving health care access and I humbly embrace the challenge of continuing that legacy.” says Kaleniecki.
“We are thankful for Ruth who has enthusiastically accepted the position of Executive Director of MHF,” says Chandler. “Her passion for the work and MHF parallels Randy’s and we are anxious for her to guide and navigate MHF into the future. There is no question that both the Foundation and Board are in good hands!”
Metro Health Foundation’s priority is to support programs within the City of Detroit and the surrounding tri-county area, with a focus on improving access to primary, physical health care, particularly for vulnerable populations. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its new website at www.metrohealthfdn.org.
