Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy Announces Howard Axel As New President - Also, Completion Of Strategic Plan To Be A Leading Presidential Memorial Park And Destination For Visitors From Around The World

Roosevelt Island's FDR Four Freedoms Park tweets:

We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Howard Axel, effective today. Congrats Howard! https://t.co/nKFlGa37Y0 pic.twitter.com/7wqLJOBC5Z

— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) November 1, 2016

According to this October 31 announcement from the FDR Four Freedoms Park:

Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel, founder of Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, announced today the completion of a three-year strategic plan for the organization. Funded by Alphawood Foundation Chicago, the plan, designed with consultants Lord Cultural Resources, sets the stage for Four Freedoms Park, which has welcomed over 600,000 visitors since opening in 2012, to solidify by 2020 its place as a leading presidential memorial park and important destination for visitors from around the world. Barbara Shattuck Kohn, Chair of the Board, announced that Howard Axel has been named the Conservancy’s President and CEO to execute the vision articulated by the strategic plan. Sally Minard, founding president and CEO of the Conservancy, who championed the creation of the Park since 2007 and guided the strategic planning process, will become Vice-Chair of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Axel came to the Conservancy from Grameen America, the largest microfinance organization in the United States, where he was Senior Vice President. In addition to his background in the non-profit sector, Howard worked for many years in the entertainment industry, most recently as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships for Talenthouse. He also has a strong background in park and preservation issues from his years as Development Director at the Trust for Public Land.

“We are thrilled that Howard will serve as our new CEO,” said Barbara Shattuck Kohn, Chairman of the Board of Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. “His experience in the non-profit and private sectors will be a tremendous asset to our organization. At the same time, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sally for her 10 years of leadership. This remarkable New York State Park would not exist today if not for her tireless dedication, passion, and service.”

“It has been a true privilege to be part of a team that realized Ambassador vanden Heuvel’s 40-year vision for a memorial to President Roosevelt,” said Minard. “The past decade has been challenging, exhilarating, and enormously satisfying.”

“I am honored to succeed Sally and build on her accomplishments, which have made the memorial a world-class destination,” said Axel. “I am particularly thankful to Alphawood for investing in the future vision of the Conservancy as I take on this new role. I share a real sense of excitement and commitment with our stakeholders as we look forward to protecting and promoting this incredible memorial and implementing inspiring public programs.”

Alphawood Foundation Chicago, a private foundation, also announced its continued support of Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park with a $500,000 donation to advance the mission of the Conservancy. This gift, which will be disbursed over two years, supplements the approximately $11 million of support provided to date by Alphawood to build and open the Park. “Honoring the legacy of FDR goes to the core of Alphawood’s mission,” said James D. McDonough, Alphawood Foundation Executive Director. “We take inspiration from his memory and from the Four Freedom speech every day as we go about the work of the Alphawood Foundation. We are proud to provide additional support to the Conservancy to ensure that its leadership is the best available.”

About Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park is the first memorial dedicated to the president in his home state of New York. Located on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island in New York City, it is the last work of Louis I. Kahn, an iconic architect of the 20th century.

About Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization responsible for maintaining and operating FDR Four Freedoms Park under a cooperative agreement with the New York State Parks Department. As steward of this extraordinary civic space designed by Louis I. Kahn, the Conservancy advances President Roosevelt’s legacy and inspires, educates, and engages the public in the ideals of the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. The Conservancy does this by:

• safeguarding the memorial as a space for inspired use

• fostering community and understanding

• igniting conversation about human rights and freedoms today.

For more information, please visit: www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org.

About Alphawood Foundation

Alphawood Foundation is a Chicago-based grant making private foundation working for an equitable, just and humane society. It awards grants to more than 200 organizations annually, primarily in the areas of advocacy, architecture and preservation, arts, domestic violence prevention, the environment, promotion and protection of the rights of LGBT citizens and people living with HIV/AIDS, and other human and civil rights.

About Lord Cultural Resources

Lord Cultural Resources is the world's largest global professional practice dedicated to creating cultural capital. We collaborate with people and organizations to plan and manage cultural places, programs and resources that deliver excellence in the service of society. Visit www.lord.ca for more information.

Mr. Axel had previously been the Vice President of Development for the FDR Park since June 2016.

FDR Park representative Madeline Grimes notes:

... As always, central to our goal is to operate and maintain Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park to the highest possible standard. We love being a part of the Roosevelt Island community, and will strive to continuously make a positive impact on its members....

Former President and now Vice Chairman of the FDR Park Conservancy Board Sally Minard adds:

... after exactly 10 years in this job, I couldn’t stop working for Four Freedoms Park if I tried. As Conservancy Vice Chair and member of the Board Finance and Development committees, my work continues. Now, I’ll have even more time to introduce new people to Roosevelt Island and host visits to Four Freedoms Park....