Maria Burk named interim leader of United Way of Medina County

Sun Medina United Way of Medina County interim leader Maria Burk

Maria Burk has been named interim leader of United Way of Medina County. (Courtesy of United Way of Medina County)

MEDINA, Ohio -- Following the resignation of United Way of Medina County Executive Director Cheryl Parzych on June 28, United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Board of Directors of United Way of Medina County have named Maria Burk interim director of United Way of Medina County.

Parzych had served as executive director of the organization since 2015. United Way spokesperson Katie Connell stated that the organization’s hope is for Burk and the Medina County chapter to work even more closely with United Way of Greater Cleveland.

In a departmental memo provided to the Medina Sun by United Way of Greater Cleveland, UWGC President and CEO Augie Napoli stated, “It is with regret that we announce … Cheryl Parzych, CEO, will be leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities.”

Napoli went on to note in the memo that, during her tenure, Parzych “led the team’s efforts related to E4Youth Summit; Employing Medina County; One Book, One Community; and the new-to-the-community Wrap Around School model focused on mental health services as a priority in the Medina schools.”

“We are grateful for Cheryl’s contributions to the organization as a proponent of community engagement and civic leadership,” Napoli wrote.

Burk on board

Burk joined United Way of Medina in 2013 as director of community impact, where she helped advance community conversations, analyzed data and led volunteerism, working closely with local nonprofits to ensure that grant investments “created lasting and meaningful impact within the communities United Way of Medina County serves,” Burk said.

“I joined United Way of Summit County in 2016, bringing a refreshed approach to their community impact program based on my tenure and experience working with United Way of Medina County,” Burk said of her history with the organization. “I rejoined United Way of Medina County in 2017, returning to again lead the organization’s community impact team.”

Burk is also active in a number of community committees, including Share Cluster and the Living Well Medina Coalition, as well as several subcommittees.

Burk said that as interim leader, she remains committed to addressing the needs of the people living in Medina County, in particular children and youth.

“It is an honor to be named interim leader of United Way of Medina County by the leadership at United Way of Greater Cleveland and United Way of Medina County’s Board of Trustees,” she said.

“I look forward to working closely with United Way of Medina County’s Board of Directors and United Way of Greater Cleveland to continue the meaningful work we do within the communities we serve, as well as further advance the trusted relationships we have developed with nonprofits across Medina County.”

Burk said the overall goal of United Way of Medina County and United Way of Greater Cleveland is to continue to meet the most important needs within Medina County, including preparing children for kindergarten and addressing the mental health needs of youths and teens.

“UWMC is proud to provide mental health services to students across the various school districts within Medina County,” she said. “And we’re also proud to have completed the first successful year of the Garfield Wrap Around School program, which helps connect students and their parents with much-needed community resources, as well as academic support.

"I look forward to continuing United Way of Medina County’s important work, including preparing our children and youth for successful futures.”

Cooperative work to continue

Nick Hanek, chairman of the board of United Way of Medina County, said he and his fellow board members look forward to continuing to work with the organization’s colleagues at United Way of Greater Cleveland as Burk assumes her role and the chapter marks its as 90th year of serving Medina County.

“Augie, the Board of Directors at United Way of Medina County and I thank and commend the team at United Way of Medina County, including Cheryl, Maria and Bobbie Gardner, for their leadership and commitment to supporting our neighbors in need across Medina County,” Hanek said in a June 28 press release.

In the release, Napoli called United Way of Medina County an important part of the fabric of Medina County since 1929.

“The leadership team at United Way of Greater Cleveland is committed to advancing the significant progress the team at United Way of Medina County has made through close partnership with Maria, Bobbie and the Board of Directors of United Way of Medina County,” he said.

“United Way of Greater Cleveland will work closely with United Way of Medina County to address the ongoing needs facing our neighbors in Medina County in the most effective and thoughtful ways possible, optimizing our collective United Way resources in Medina County for the people of Medina County.”

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