The Shelby Foundation is fortunate to have Carrie Kemerer as its director. Always interested in helping her fellow man, Carrie obtained her degree in psychology from The Ohio State University and worked briefly with the mentally ill before transitioning to the world of nonprofit organizations to help her community in other ways. In 2007, Carrie found herself in the public relations department at MedCentral where she worked closely with donors and media relations to raise interest and hold fundraisers for the benefit of its nationally recognized cardiac program. It was her very public success in this role that caught the attention of several members of The Shelby Foundation’s board in 2014. The Board knew Carrie could take the Foundation to the next level, so they reached out to her about position of director. When she saw that she could use her skills to make her hometown a better place, her decision was easy: she left a job she loved for the new adventure of running The Shelby Foundation.

Since then, she has grown the Foundation by millions of dollars, and the Board has been able to use this added wealth to greatly increase the money it donates to programs in need and to institute its own programs where a need is found. From a speaker series to empower women to free swimming at Seltzer Pool for those who might not be able to afford it, the Foundation is doing more good work than ever.

As if running a multi-million-dollar foundation wasn’t enough, Carrie is also involved in many other nonprofit organizations. She previously served as president and is still an active member in the Rotary Club of Shelby; she is the treasurer for the United Fund of Shelby; and she sits on the executive team for the Community Improvement Corporation of Shelby, which is the driving force behind downtown revitalization efforts.

Perhaps even more important than her professional endeavors, Carrie is a committed wife and mother to her husband, Michael, and their son, Jude, and a devoted daughter and caregiver to her father.

Carrie loves The Shelby Foundation, the community, and its residents. She is always looking for opportunities to share all the great things happening and connect with familiar and new faces. To schedule time to meet with her, contact the Foundation office at 419-342-3686.