Laurie G. Hackett and Ellen Millard-Kern Appointed to
Allentown School District Foundation Board of Directors
(December 9, 2016, Allentown, PA) Serving the children of the 3rd largest urban school district in Pennsylvania, the Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF) Board of Directors voted at its board meetings in October and December for two new board appointments: Laurie G. Hackett and Ellen Millard-Kern, respectively.
“These are two very dedicated public servants and they are very dedicated to our cause,” says Richard L. Button, ASDF president. “Laurie brings high-level development experience from the corporate sector and Ellen offers a great deal of knowledge about the community and matters related to governance. They are leaders in their respective fields.”
Laurie G. Hackett
Laurie G. Hackett’s involvement in the Lehigh Valley community is well-known. She has served in various management roles in corporate relations for Air Products since 2005. Her knowledge in community relations and philanthropy is extensive and she shares her experience and ideas to make communities here better. Laurie holds a Bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Master’s degree in higher education administration from Miami University. She has continued her studies in educational administration at Lehigh University. At one point in her career, she was a program director of the Iacocca Institute at Lehigh and on the university adjunct faculty staff there. Laurie’s list of community connections is extensive and includes holding the national board chair of SkillsUSA Foundation; vice president of the City of Bethlehem Water Authority; chair of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC) Main Street Foundation; trustee of the R.K. Laros Foundation; board member of both the IronPigs Charities and the Phantoms Charities; and on the executive committee for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. She also serves the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, the Lehigh Valley Business Education Partnership and is a founding board member of the Nonprofit and Business Partners Council of the GLVCC.
Ellen Millard-Kern
When he put together his staff, State Senator Pat Browne wanted someone with a solid background in the community to serve as his chief of staff. With that in mind, he hired Ellen Kern, who was then serving as the vice president, development, for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Ellen graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and sociology. She also received the New York State Regents Academic Merit Scholarship, the Jesse Stevens Merit Scholarship awarded by the faculty of her high school and the PA Governor’s Highway Safety Award. In 1991, the March of Dimes Lehigh Valley Chapter named Ellen “Most Wanted Woman in the Lehigh Valley” for her fundraising activities. She became the first female president of the Kiwanis Club of Allentown in 1993 and was designated a “distinguished president” by Kiwanis International in 1994. In 1996, Ellen received the Lehigh Carbon Community College “Collegiate Award of Distinction”. She was the recipient of the City of Allentown’s 1997 Human Relations Award, was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Great Valley Girl Scout Council and was named a “Woman of Influence” in 2016 by Lehigh Valley Business. Ellen is and has been active with many community organizations including current chair of Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Foundation, board member of the following organizations: Latino Leadership Alliance of the Lehigh Valley, 7th Street Development Committee, Hamilton District-Main Street Program, Scoutreach steering committee, Communities In Schools, Cedar Crest College Board of Advisors. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Allentown and chair of the Rotary Club of Allentown Foundation.
About Allentown School District Foundation
With a vision for enriched education for Allentown School District students, the ASD Foundation mission is to encourage, promote and support innovative educational experiences for students in the Allentown School District. If you would like to learn more, please contact the foundation at 484-765-4093 or williamssu@allentownsd.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 328, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown PA 18105. www.allentownsd.org/asdf.
Press Release By: Susan Williams
Information provided to TVL by:
Kimberly Golden Benner
Director of Communications
Allentown School District
