Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Names Natalie A. Zappella as Program Associate

Detroit, MI, January 28, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (www.cfsem.org) announced the hiring of Natalie A. Zappella as program associate. Zappella will support programming and grant making activities of the Community Foundation, and explore the Foundation’s role in supporting older adults and livable communities in southeast Michigan.

Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Zappella served youth and families through child welfare and mental health work in California. She gained experience serving older adults while working as an intern with Presbyterian Villages of Michigan and the Michigan State Office on Aging. Additionally, Zappella has worked for environmental justice and sustainable development with Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice and the Southeast Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.

Zappella graduated as a McGregor Geriatric Fellow from the University of Michigan School of Social Work and received the 2007 Region IV MSW Student of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Work. She has dual master’s degrees: a Master’s of Social Work and a Master’s of Urban Planning, both from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Zapella received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from San Diego State University.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations committed to the future of southeast Michigan. The Foundation works to improve the region’s quality of life by connecting those who care with causes that matter. The Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $324 million through more than 30,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.

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