Maryland Nonprofits Elects New Board Members and Officers 

Media Contact:
Imany Dye, Communications & Marketing Coordinator
Iadye@mdnonprofit.org | (443) 238 2336 

Baltimore, Maryland – Maryland Nonprofits, the sole association representing the 40,000 nonprofit organizations in Maryland, is pleased to announce the election of new board members and officers to terms beginning January 1, 2024. The 2024 Maryland Nonprofits Board of Directors will play a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission of strengthening organizations for a greater quality of life and equity. 

The newly elected members of the Maryland Nonprofits Board of Directors are: 

• Helen Kim (she/her)
  Executive Director, Hoffberger Family Philanthropies 

• George Leventhal, Ph.D. (he/him)
  Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente 

• Jarred M. Ricks (he/him)
  Senior Vice President, Regional Manager – Greater Washington Business Banking Group, M&T Bank 

• Tom Riford (he/him)
  Fmr. Assistant Secretary – Marketing, Communications, Tourism, Film & The Arts, Maryland Department of Commerce 

In addition to these board members, Maryland Nonprofits is proud to announce the following election of board officers: 

• Walter Simmons (he/him)
  Chair 

• Will Pass (he/him)
  Vice Chair 

• Cheryl Thomas, CPA (she/her)
  Treasurer 

• Nona Carroll (she/her)
  Secretary 

Heather Iliff, President & CEO of Maryland Nonprofits, expressed her excitement about the new additions to the Board of Directors: “I am thrilled to welcome our new board members to Maryland Nonprofits. We recognize the challenges Maryland faces, from the end of COVID-19 funding and support to low-income Marylanders, as well as continued workforce challenges.  With our new board leadership, we will continue to work tirelessly in addressing these barriers and strengthening Maryland’s nonprofits and greater quality of life and equity.” 

A key objective of Maryland Nonprofits is to maintain a board representative of the diverse nonprofit sector in Maryland. Each new board member brings a unique set of skills and experiences to Maryland Nonprofits: 

• Helen Kim has a strong background in philanthropy, nonprofit management, and consulting, with a focus on expanding equity and access efforts. 
• George Leventhal, Ph.D. has a wealth of experience in community health and public policy, having served on the Montgomery County Council in Maryland for 16 years. 
• Jarred M. Ricks brings a decade of experience in banking and a commitment to helping small businesses thrive in the Greater Washington region. 
• Tom Riford has a diverse career spanning tourism, economic development, and marketing, with a strong dedication to the Western Maryland community. 

Walter Simmons, reelected to a second term as board chair, shared his perspective on the role of Maryland Nonprofits: “I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Maryland Nonprofits Board of Directors. The nonprofit sector plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life and advancing equity in our communities. I look forward to working with our dedicated board members to ensure that Maryland Nonprofits continues to be the champion for our state’s nonprofit organizations.” 

 

About Maryland Nonprofits
For 30 years, Maryland Nonprofits has worked to promote a thriving and effective nonprofit sector in Maryland and nationally through our Standards for Excellence Institute. With our 1,600 members, we coordinate advocacy with nonprofit leaders to advance equity and public policy that supports vibrant community organizations and civil society. Maryland Nonprofits’ capacity-building services include the state’s largest nonprofit consulting group, training, an annual conference, and accreditation through the Standards for Excellence® program. We are the home of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth (MARFY), Maryland Latinos Unidos, and the Charge-Up Collaborative. Maryland Nonprofits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a mission to strengthen organizations for greater quality of life and equity. Visit www.marylandnonprofits.org for more information.