As Executive Director, Carol Thornton leads strategic initiatives, drives organizational growth, and fosters collaboration while continuing the mission of the foundation to champion and invest in ideas, initiatives, and collaborations to advance equity and improve the health of the people and communities in our region.
She joined the foundation in 2018 as the Director of Grants and Public Policy and has over two decades of government and nonprofit experience in both staff and volunteer capacities. Prior to joining the foundation, she spent 11 years with the Pennsylvania Department of Health where she engaged diverse stakeholders in strategic and action planning in injury and violence prevention. She was the Principal Investigator for multiple grants and cooperative agreements in over $20 million in awarded funds to support statewide and local prevention efforts. Carol has served on numerous committees and task forces at the national and state levels, addressing prevention of violence, drug poisoning, suicide, motor vehicle crashes, and falls to support research and practice.
Currently, she serves on the Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care Board to advance its mission to end homelessness throughout its geographic region, which encompasses 33 counties, primarily rural, in the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
Carol holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from LaSalle University and a Master degree in Public Administration from Pennsylvania State University.