Published: February 16, 2009 10:21 am      

Foundation hires executive director

The Chickasha Public School Foundation (CPSF) is seeing new growth. It recently announced the hiring of an Executive Director, Lou Christian.

Lou replaces the previous Development Director, Roddy McKenzie who left CPSF in June of 2008 and accomplished so much as the first employed staff of CPSF.

Lou,s responsibilities include providing coordination of all activities and initiatives; continuing efforts to find sources of funding for projects and programs; growing the endowment; maintaining records, website and providing administrative support in addition to a long list of other related duties.

Lou comes to this position with experience in working with other education foundations in several communities throughout Oklahoma along with volunteer experience working with the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

She is no stranger to education with Retirement Planning Specialist certification from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma; a Bachelors of Business Administration from Cameron University and she is currently an adjunct professor with Oklahoma City Community College. She brings years of working experience as a business owner, a financial consultant for businesses and individuals, a bank loan officer, and experience as a personnel director. Her past volunteer efforts with organizations like Lions Club, United Way, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Foundationfor Excellence,Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and several mentoring organizations will be an immense resource to CPSF as she draws on those experiences. She is a Leadership Oklahoma Class XVII graduate and has received many honors and awards through the years including being named as one of The Journal Record's "50 Women Making a Difference" n 2005; Oklahoma Bankers Association Consumer Lending School Honors Graduate and from 2002- 2008 numerous national, state, regional and local awards in the financial planning industry.

“We are really pleased that Lou Christian has agreed to join the Chickasha Public School Foundation in its efforts to affect a positive difference for the public schools in our community. She brings an extraordinary collection of talent, experience, credentials and motivation to the executive director’s position. With the support of our outstanding board of directors, I’m confident that Lou is the right person to lead this foundation to new levels of achievement in community support for the mission and goals of the public schools,” said Terry Winn, President of CPSF.

CPSF was established in 1985. It was created to raise funds for the Chickasha Public Schools to ensure the continued advancement of educational opportunities.

The CPSF is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization. Because of its tax-exempt status all gifts and contributions to the foundation are tax deductible.

The CPSF activities are funded through an endowment and annual fund raising events.

Another way the Foundation is growing and developing is through new efforts to fund the organization in perpetuity.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation are embarking on another campaign with a very long term effect.

Additional details will be provided in the future, but in essence it is a sustaining membership program to get every Chickasha resident involved in building a bridge from the community to the schools.