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Smart Start of New Hanover County Board Elects New Officers and Members

June 26, 2009

Wilmington - The Board of Directors of Smart Start of New Hanover County elected new officers and two new members at its quarterly board meeting Tuesday, June 23, 2009  The new officers, elected to serve for the 2009 to 2010 fiscal year, are Ben Wright, elected President; Sandra Sheridan, Vice-President; Greg Stone, Treasurer; and Amy Tripp, Secretary.

Two new members were elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the current year through 2012.  New board members include Ms. Jenna Butler, an Attorney with Ward and Smith, PA and Rev. Robert Lapp, an Associate Pastor with St. Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church.

The Smart Start of New Hanover County Board of Directors has 35 members, each elected to a three-year term.  Members of the board are representatives of government and non-profit community agencies, as well as parents, early educators, and business and community leaders.  The Board of Directors oversees $2.5 million in state Smart Start funding for the 2008 to 2009 fiscal year, as well as private contributions and grants, in order to provide a broad range of health, family support, and early education to children from birth to age five in New Hanover County and their families.  Currently, Smart Start of New Hanover County receives $2.5 million to support services, however as calculated by statewide demographic data and other resources available, the actual need for children ages birth to five is over $9 million.

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