MARSHALL, Minn. — Tanya Moat is the new chief executive officer of the United Way of Southwest Minnesota, following a leadership search conducted after former CEO Meg Louwagie resigned in April.
Moat previously served as the organization’s Community Impact and Internal Programs coordinator. She officially accepted the CEO position about a week ago.
“It is a great privilege and I’m really excited to lead the United Way,” Moat said. “We have a lot of great things coming up.”
Moat said she is looking forward to continuing the organization’s work in southwest Minnesota while building relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners.
One of the programs Moat highlighted is the United Way’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program provides children from birth through age five with a free book each month. United Way of Southwest Minnesota has sponsored the program since 2005 and recently reached its 10,000th graduate. More than 2,000 children are currently enrolled.
“We’re very proud to be a sponsor,” Moat said. “It’s such a wonderful program.”
The United Way also recently completed its annual Stuff the Bus campaign, distributing about 50,000 school supplies to 22 participating schools and roughly 4,000 students.
Moat said the campaign was a community-wide effort involving donors, businesses and volunteers.
“It’s a true community event and we really want to thank everyone for supporting us because you’re supporting the United Way, but you’re truly supporting those students,” she said.
With the school supplies now distributed, Moat said families still needing assistance should contact their local school.
The United Way is also hosting Taco Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday (today) at the Lyon County Courthouse. Taqueria El Tarasco will have its food truck on site, with proceeds benefiting the United Way of Southwest Minnesota.
More information about the United Way and its programs is available at unitedwayswmn.org or by calling 507-929-2273.
