Area Non-Profit Executive Director Retires

PIQUA – After over 36 years of service, Shirley Hathaway, Executive Director of Council on Rural Service Programs has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2013. 

As Executive Director for most of her 36 years, Shirley’s vision led the organization through expanding service areas to nine counties, creating new programs for children, youth and adults, establishing collaborative partnerships in the communities, and purchasing/building local child care centers.  Throughout her many years at Council on Rural Services she set a standard of excellence that encouraged staff to seek their highest potential and to know that they always made a difference in the lives of others, even if it took a while to see it.

Shirley currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Clear Creek Farm Youth Group Home and Edison Community College Human Services Advisory Council. She is also a member of national, state and community organizations as well as a longtime member of Rotary International and first woman president of the Greenville Rotary Club.

Shirley said, “I am so proud to be part of this agency and am equally grateful to have had an experience to watch literally thousands of children and youth reach towards their continuing potential.   It has also been my blessing to work with such dedicated staff whose inspiration every day has enormous impact in our communities.”

Janet Julian, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Shirley for her leadership, extreme passion and dedication for all she has done for Council on Rural Services for more than three decades. Shirley has the gift of creating a vision and then taking it beyond what others cannot even imagine. We wish her well in her retirement.”

Hathaway continued, “As I move forward in a new direction, I am thankful for the strong leadership at Council on Rural Services and know that with Dan Schwanitz as Interim Executive Director, the organization will continue to live its mission with the highest quality.”  Hathaway, a recent graduate of the American Viniyoga Institute will be pursuing a master’s program in Clinical Yoga Therapy in California. 

The Council on Rural Services organization administers grants and programs in a nine county area of west central Ohio (Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Preble, Shelby and Van Wert)  that include Head Start, Early Head Start, Kids Learning Place, Help Me Grow, Gateway Youth Programs, and Achievement Center for Educational Success.  Also there are volunteer programs; such as HandsOn West Central Ohio, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSV