Eric DeWald will be the new president and CEO of the Health Foundation of La Porte as of April 16.
DeWald succeeds Maria Fruth, the foundation’s founding CEO.
“We are excited by what Eric DeWald represents for HFL and the communities we serve,” said Scott Siefker, chair of the foundation’s board, in a press release. “He is a humble, empathetic servant leader, and his experience leading community-based health legacy foundations to greater impact will build nicely on the wonderful progress Maria Fruth and her colleagues have accomplished in HFL’s first eight years.”
Before joining Health Foundation of La Porte, DeWald served as president of the Cincinnati-based HealthPath Foundation of Ohio. DeWald helped establish HealthPath as an intermediary across its 36-county footprint. During his tenure, HealthPath attracted millions in funds to assist communities in areas as oral health, healthy aging and domestic violence prevention.
“I am truly honored by the opportunity to join HFL,” DeWald said. “Not only does it bring together in one place my work over the last 25 years with health legacy foundations, community partners, government agencies, and the men and women doing great work on the ground every day, but I also get to do this in La Porte, which has already proven to be a very welcoming community.”
Previously, he worked for 15 years as CEO of Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (now Community Giving Foundation) in Berwick, Pennsylvania. DeWald is a native of that state, but called himself a “Midwesterner at heart.”
DeWald earned his master’s degree in public administration from Penn State University and his bachelor's degree in sociology from Eastern College.
DeWald’s appointment follows a search led by BoardWalk Consulting. The search firm specializes in the leadership of foundations and nonprofits. The search encompassed leaders in La Porte, throughout Indiana and about two dozen other states.
The foundation narrowed the pool of 150 prospects to six contenders. Following interviews and additional vetting, the committee unanimously recommended DeWald.
“I am delighted by Eric DeWald’s appointment,” Fruth said. “His philanthropic experience and collaborative approach offer great promise for our community.”
Health Foundation of La Porte is a private foundation. It is dedicated to empowering residents of La Porte County to live healthy and well. The foundation has invested over $41 million in the community since 2017.
Caption: Eric DeWald (Provided by Health Foundation of La Porte)
