Our Press Releases
David Russell appointed as Director of Survivors Fund
London – 02 October 2008
In announcing the appointment of David Russell as the new Director of Survivors Fund, Mary Blewitt OBE wrote to supporters:
I write to announce the appointment of the new Director of Survivors Fund (SURF). It is with great pleasure that I can announce that David Russell will begin in post in January 2009.
A number of you know David from his work with SURF over the years. Since 2004, he has worked professionally with us, first as our communications consultant and more recently providing vital support to me on programme development, fundraising and advocacy.
He has travelled a number of times to Rwanda, most recently in June, to work with the Coordinator of SURF's Kigali Office, Gabo Wilson. He brings to the role an understanding of our work, awareness of the issues, and most importantly a passion for the cause.
For the previous 18 months, David has been studying nonprofit management at the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University as a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. Thus, he comes to SURF with training that will be vital for the job, in financial and strategic management, fundraising, capacity building and programme evaluation.
As well, he has been working to help establish SURF in America. He organised a version of the Reading of the Testimonies in Washington Square Park earlier this year, modelled on the Trafalgar Square event he helped develop in July 2004, which I was fortunate to attend. That it was in partnership with several survivors, and organisations, based in New York, exemplified his approach.
David began working with SURF soon after he helped set up The PR Office, where he supported the work of a number of other charities, including the Holocaust Educational Trust and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He was a founding board member of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, and last year set up The Social Enterprise, extending his consultancy work to charities including HelpAge International.
Having worked with David now for almost five years, I can attest to his dedication and commitment and I could not be happier that I now pass the baton to him. He has my full support, and confidence, and I am certain that he will be a great asset to SURF.
The challenges ahead for survivors and SURF are still great. Your continuing support will be more vital than ever as we approach the 15th Anniversary of the genocide in April 2009. I thank you again for everything you have helped SURF achieve since our inception in 1997, and I dearly hope that like me you will continue to stay involved as the charity moves into this new and exciting phase.
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