Community Chest Appoints New Executive Director

The civic group that brings Port Washington such signature community events as the Turkey Trot and the Manhasset Bay Kayak Run recently tapped Julie Harnick, a veteran of several Port Washington non-profits, as its executive director.

A Port institution since 1949, the Community Chest of Port Washington provides services and funds to 21 non-profit organizations in town. Harnick she said believes that the Community Chest has the potential to expand its outreach and to energize a new base of supporters in town.

"It could be something spectacular for Port," Harnick said. "I see the Community Chest as the hub of Port Washington's approach to helping its community members, so all of the coat drives, all of the gift drives, we may not run, but we should have a catalog of, so when is a family in need, I can tell them where to go."

Harnick added, "The Community Chest raises a lot of money but we can and should raise more."

Perhaps best known as the face of the Port Washington Parent Resource Center (PRC) during her three-year tenure as its executive director, Harnick has most recently served as the president of The Port Washington Youth Council where she was instrumental in overhauling the 30-year-old Teen Center at Landmark into its current program-driven incarnation as The PiT at Landmark. Harnick will step down from her role at the Youth Council, which is a Community Chest grant recipient.

Harnick said she plans to tap into social media channels such as Facebook and blog sites to inform and engage the Port Washington community about the Community Chest's activities.

"We believe that Julie brings important financial, technical, organizational, interpersonal and communications skills to her position," said Richard Strautman, president of the Community Chest. "We are excited about her joining our team and we look forward to her facilitating our mission of 'the People of Port Helping the People of Port.'"

Despite Port Washington's perceived middle-class suburban status, pockets of need exist in the town and the weakening economy is bringing greater pressures to bear on individuals and organizations.  Harnick said the Community Chest seeks to help alleviate those pressures.

"The organizations we fund provide a range of services to our youngest and oldest and all those in-between ... for athletic, cultural and educational activities, and food and services to people in need," Harnick said. "These organizations are dedicated to providing services that are critically needed in Port Washington and which improve the lives of its citizens."

News of Harnick's appointment was welcomed by residents who have worked with her in the past.

Community activist Amy Bass, vice president of the Community Chest, first began working with Harnick 10 years ago when they were part of the founding team of the Port Washington Education Foundation. Calling Harnick a "wonderful addition" to the Community Chest, Bass echoed Strautman saying that Harnick's "administrative and financial skills will add strength to the chest."

Former PRC president Diana von Roeschlaub who worked with Harnick during her tenure at that organization called Harnick a "civic minded person." Von Roeschlaub added that Harnick brings strengths beyond that of her resume. "She is so approachable," Von Roeschlaub said. "People can really talk to her."