United Way of the Big Bend President Katrina Rolle is leaving the agency for a new job. Rolle’s departure comes a year after the social services agency announced it was re-tooling its operation and scaling down.
Rolle served on the United Way’s Board for three years before getting the nod in 2015. The United Way rolled out a revised mission plan last year that focused on early learning, financial literacy and workforce education. Speaking at the time, Rolle said she wanted to bring groups to the table to discuss the plan. She described the move as one of the organization's strengths.
"So one of our strengths is to convene collaborative partners…and coming up with how do we attack these metrics…so that will be one of the steps we do is bring the people to the table who are working in that space, and come up with solutions.”
But the new direction angered many of the agencies that depended on United Way funding. The shift resulted in at least a dozen agencies not offered the opportunity to apply. Rolle will now lead the Community Foundation of North Florida.
“It has been a privilege to work collaboratively with outstanding board members, motivated donors, dedicated volunteers, and loyal staff to make a difference in our community," she said in a letter to the United Way's board. "Together, we have made great strides in our focus to strengthen families and end the generational cycle of poverty."
Rolle was named head of the United Way in 2015 and replaced Heather Mitchell, who worked in the organization's development department.
