MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (February 8, 2001)  Four leaders of Minnesota's philanthropy community have been elected to the board of directors of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, a regional membership association for philanthropy. The Council's four new board members are: Kyoko Katayama, trustee of the Stull Family Foundation, St. Paul; Valerie Halverson Pace, state manager of IBM corporate community relations and public affairs for Minnesota, Rochester; Holly C. Sampson, president of the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation; and Laysha Ward, director of the Target Foundation and of community relations for Dayton's, Marshall Field's and Hudson's, Minneapolis. The Council's membership elected the new board members at the organization's annual meeting on January 25, 2001.

At the annual meeting, the Council's board of directors re-elected Chris Andersen as its chair for 2001. Andersen is executive director of the Lutheran Community Foundation, Minneapolis. The board also elected the following officers for 2001: Vice Chair: Marina Muñoz Lyon, vice president of Pohlad Family Charities, Minneapolis; Secretary: Kathy Gaalswyk, president of the Initiative Foundation, Little Falls; Treasurer: John Butler, trustee of the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation, St. Paul.

"We look forward to the fresh insights, ideas and enthusiasm that these new board members and officers will bring to the Council," said incoming Council president Bill King. "Their varied perspectives and experiences will help ensure that the Council continues to effectively assist our members with their essential community work."

Founded in 1969, the Minnesota Council on Foundations is a regional membership association of grantmakers working to improve the vitality and health of our communities. The Council's broad and diverse membership includes private foundations, community and other public foundations, and corporate foundations and giving programs. The Council's mission is to strengthen and to increase participation in philanthropy.

CONTACT: David Biemesderfer, director of communications and external relations, 612/335-3597, dbiemesderfer@mcf.org.

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