Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Appoints Marilee Dal Pra Vice President of Programs

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has appointed Marilee Dal Pra vice president of programs. In this new role she will oversee Piper Trust’s community initiatives and strategic program development. Dal Pra has been a program director at Piper Trust since 2001; her position as vice president of programs is effective immediately.

“Having been with Piper Trust for over a decade, it is extremely gratifying to see how strategic philanthropy can move the needle on issues that affect quality of life”

“Elevating Marilee to vice president of programs is an especially happy and meaningful occasion at Piper Trust. Marilee is deeply committed to the health and vitality of the state. Her ability to identify disparate needs in our communities and effectively mobilize resources to create strategic solutions is compelling,” said Judy Jolley Mohraz, president and CEO, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

Dal Pra is the architect of key Piper Trust initiatives such as:

• early childhood literacy—leading and developing myriad programs and systems designed to positively impact the reading proficiencies of Arizona’s children;
• The Arizona Parent Kit—a toolkit that provides multiple resources to help parents navigate their children’s first critical years (now administered by First Things First, the kit is distributed to 65,000 new parents annually);
• Maricopa Family Support Alliance—in partnership with the nonprofit sector, formed to better connect family support service providers in Maricopa County and offer families cohesive, seamless opportunities and guidance for success (the Alliance has 36 member agencies and is rapidly expanding); and
• quality afterschool programs—seeking and designing innovative solutions that enrich programming for children during the critical afterschool hours.

“Having been with Piper Trust for over a decade, it is extremely gratifying to see how strategic philanthropy can move the needle on issues that affect quality of life,” said Dal Pra. “It is an honor to be a steward of Virginia Piper’s generosity and to work with such dedicated Trustees and colleagues. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Trust in this new role.”

Dal Pra serves in leadership positions on the boards of Grantmakers for Children, Youth & Families; Educare Arizona; and Expect More Arizona, and is the co-chair of First Things First’s Family Support and Literacy Advisory Committee and Valley of the Sun United Way’s Youth Advisory Council. Formerly, Dal Pra was the director for the Arizona Governor’s Division for Children, where she developed and implemented policies and programs for children, youth and families. She holds a master’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University.

Carol Kratz, a program director who also joined the Trust in 2001, has moved to a part-time capacity and will continue to lead the Trust’s rich body of work and initiatives related to older adults and arts and culture. Kratz has been instrumental in Maricopa County’s recognition as a national laboratory for innovative programs that match the talents of baby boomers with the professional and social purpose needs of nonprofits.

About Piper Trust:

A private independent foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust honors Virginia Galvin Piper’s philanthropic commitment to changing lives and strengthening community in Maricopa County (Arizona). By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, Piper Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, more nurturing and vibrant community. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $300 million in local nonprofits and programs. The Trust had total grants paid of $21.9 million in fiscal year 2012. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations. For more information, visit www.pipertrust.org. Follow us on Twitter @PiperTrust / Like us on Facebook.