Minneapolis, MN, January 22, 2007 – Trustees of The Minneapolis Foundation today announced that Sandra Vargas, Hennepin County administrator, will join the Foundation as president and chief executive officer April 1.

“We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished leader to The Minneapolis Foundation,” said Steve Roszell, chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees. “Sandy is well-versed in the needs of our community as well as its many assets. She is resourceful, innovative and collaborative. She will be an exceptional steward of our clients’ philanthropic investments as the Foundation continues its mission of service to the community.”
 
Vargas succeeds Emmett Carson, who joined the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in the San Francisco Bay area Nov. 1 after 12 years with The Minneapolis Foundation. Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, vice president of community philanthropy for the Foundation, is serving as interim president and CEO.   

As administrator, which is the top executive position in Hennepin County government, Vargas is responsible for overseeing a $2 billion budget, 12,000 employees, and such diverse operations as human services, community corrections, libraries, medical systems and public works. She began her career as a small-business consultant in the Minnesota Department of Economic Development, and held management positions at the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Transportation before becoming deputy county administrator at Hennepin in 1997. She was named county administrator in 1999.

Vargas graduated from the College of St. Catherine and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is active in several Twin Cities organizations and serves on the boards of the Guthrie Theater, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Twin Cities RISE and the Metropolitan State University Foundation.

The search for a new leader of The Minneapolis Foundation began shortly after Emmett Carson’s announcement last fall, and attracted interest from within and outside the Twin Cities. “The Foundation is one of the nation’s premiere community foundations,” Roszell said. “That reputation attracted a large pool of highly qualified candidates, all of whom were passionate about this organization and keenly interested in maintaining its leadership position and in building on its successful asset management track record.”

About the Minneapolis Foundation
Established in 1915, The Minneapolis Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations. It manages $640 million in assets, administers more than 800 charitable funds and distributes approximately $40 million in grants each year. As a center for philanthropy, the Foundation partners with a variety of communities and institutions and offers its expertise to individuals, businesses and other foundations to improve the quality of life in the region. For more information, visit www.MinneapolisFoundation.org.

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