The West Hartford-based foundation has named Veronica DeLandro as executive director.

Veronica DeLandro has been named the next executive director of the Aurora Foundation. Submitted photo

Submitted

The Aurora Women and Girls Foundation of Greater Hartford is very pleased to announce that Veronica DeLandro will join the Foundation as executive director in early August.

“Aurora is ready to go to the next level of growth and engagement with community and donor support and we believe that Veronica DeLandro has the skills to lead us there,” said Janet Bailey Faude, Board chair. “Aurora advances local collaboration, investment and impact; Veronica brings that experience to our organization.”

Veronica’s experience includes her current role as the Executive Director for College Summit CT, a nonprofit organization that partners with school districts to increase their college enrollment rates. She is a local leader with national experience whose personal drive and commitment expanded the Connecticut Region through strategic planning, fundraising and development of relationships.

In addition, Veronica served on The Governor’s Prevention Partnership for mentoring in seven urban communities, engaging legislative officials on the importance of providing training workshops for schools, communities and businesses to start mentoring programs.

Veronica holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut and is a Hampton University graduate in Mass Media Arts. Her community leadership and public service includes several boards and organizations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Hartford Alumnae Chapter (President), NAACP New Britain Branch, and the John E. Rogers African American Cultural Center.

Veronica’s past public service has included Board Member for the Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity Affiliate, Commissioner for the City of New Britain Youth & Family Services, and Founder and Mentor of the Granville Academy Mentor Program at ESPN.  In 2012 she was selected by Connecticut Magazine as one of the “40 under 40” rising leaders in the area.

Aurora welcomes Veronica’s dynamic commitment to capitalize on the recently released Aurora Report that assesses the needs of women and girls in Greater Hartford. Her role will include convening the community on focus areas from the report, raising awareness of gender as an important lens for addressing social and economic issues and leveraging the impact of Aurora’s strategic grant making in the focus area of college completion.

In commenting on her appointment, Veronica said, “For the past 15 years the Aurora Foundation has played an instrumental role in conducting research, educating and engaging women and men in the power of philanthropy, and providing grants that support groups that serve women and girls.  I’m excited to continue the legacy of the foundation by working with the staff, board, funders and community partners to identify solutions to support women and girls from the Greater Hartford community.”

Please join the Board of the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation in welcoming Veronica DeLandro.

The mission of the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation is to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Hartford. In 2000, women community leaders came together to uplift women and girls through focused philanthropy. Aurora conducts research and convenes the community around gender issues to promote understanding, collaboration and effective solutions. Known for strategic grantmaking through funds raised by its annual Signature Breakfast, Aurora is moving into a growth and development phase to increase fundraising and grow supporters engaged in giving voice to the needs of women and girls.