Community Foundation Names New President


The Community Foundation of Decatur/Macon County Board of Directors will name Louise "Wegi" Ferry Stewart as the Foundation's new President on July 5, 2010. She will succeed Lucy Murphy who retires from that position in June.

For the last twenty years Ms. Stewart has been involved in the Decatur community working in the non-profit and government arenas. For the past three years she has served as executive director of the Richland Community College Foundation, where she led the first major gifts campaign in that Foundation's history. She served as Senior Development Officer for the Decatur Memorial Hospital Foundation from 1999 to 2007, and prior to that was President of the Community Investment Corporation of Decatur, Inc, and Director of the Dove, Inc. Homeward Bound Supportive Housing Program.

Ms. Stewart has chaired the boards of directors of the Decatur Family YMCA and Heritage Behavior Health Center, and was president of the Rotary Club of Decatur in 2002. She currently serves on the Decatur Public Building Commission. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Government from Georgetown University. She lives in Decatur with her husband David Stewart and has three grown children.

The Community Foundation of Decatur/Macon County was established in 2000. It currently administers 167 funds that provide grants from the earnings of fund investments. Distributions to local agencies and initiatives in 2009 topped $1,000,000. Currently the net assets of the Community Foundation are $14.6 M. Information regarding making a contribution to these or any funds or starting a fund may be obtained by calling (217)429-3000 or by visiting The Community Foundation website at www.endowdecatur.org.