Seasoned philanthropy experts to lead giving for Youth Development and Mental Health and Well-Being

ATLANTA – Dec. 16, 2021 – The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has appointed two new managing directors to its leadership team. Daniel (Danny) Shoy, Jr., will join as managing director, Youth Development, starting Feb. 14, 2022. Elizabeth (Beth) Brown will join as managing director, Mental Health and Well-Being, starting March 14, 2022.

“Danny and Beth will both bring valuable seasoned leadership to our growing team. Their experience in philanthropy and pursuing visionary change will be critical as we build and execute strategies for these two new areas of giving,” said Fay Twersky, president, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

Shoy will return to the Blank Family Foundation after spending more than a decade at the East Lake Foundation in Atlanta, where he most recently served as president and CEO. He has 26 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with organizations focused on youth and community development. Prior to joining the East Lake Foundation, Shoy was with the Blank Family Foundation for almost ten years and was responsible for $28 million in grantmaking, primarily focused on youth development through education and the arts. Shoy is a first generation American and earned his bachelor’s degree from Emory University.

“I am grateful for the many lessons I’ve learned by working closely with youth and families in community over three decades, especially in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood for the past 12 years,” said Shoy. “I am excited to rejoin the Blank Family Foundation team because of its enduring commitment to youth development with a bold new focus and its attention to equitable opportunity for youth far from it.”

Brown joins the Blank Family Foundation from Community Foundation Sonoma County, where she spent nine years as president and CEO. Brown’s 28-year career has spanned every aspect of philanthropy, from leading community foundations to advising clients on philanthropy in private banking to advancing national policy efforts. Brown’s areas of expertise and personal passions include mental health and well-being, healing community trauma and purpose-driven leadership development. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

“I’m delighted to return to my hometown of Atlanta to join a foundation with a vision that includes addressing one of the most significant crises of our time, mental health challenges,” said Brown. “With so many young people experiencing unprecedented rates of depression and anxiety and an overall sense of loneliness and disconnection, this work could not be more timely. The combination of the Blank family’s generosity and the experienced staff led by Fay Twersky will go a long way in providing increased levels of support to promote a greater sense of purpose and well-being. I am honored to join the foundation’s growing team as we strive to implement a bold strategic vision.”

About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

After 25 years and more than $800 million in giving, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has committed to significantly accelerating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years.

The Board is embarking on a journey of deeper learning and strategy setting for its new collective areas of giving, which include: Youth Development, with a focus on workforce development and economic mobility; Democracy, with a focus on key areas of Voting Rights, and Journalism; and Environment, with a focus on key areas of Conservation and Climate Resiliency. Across these portfolios, the Foundation will look for opportunities to address the growing crisis of disconnection in our nation. Geographically, much of the work will continue to prioritize Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence.

In addition to the collective areas of giving, the Foundation will continue to oversee a large portfolio of Founder-led initiatives, including investment in the transformation of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods, mental health and wellbeing, veterans and the military, and stuttering, among others. The Foundation will also continue to guide the seven Associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses.

Mr. Blank, chairman of the Foundation, co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001.

For more information and to stay up to date, visit www.blankfoundation.org.

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