ROCHELLE – The Rochelle Area Community Foundation Board of Directors announced Emily Anaya as its new executive director in a press release last week.

Anaya will take her new position as of June 1. She’ll replace Kim Montgomery, who was director for 12 years.

Throughout her 16-year career, Anaya has grown a passion for philanthropy and brings extensive experience developing strong donor relationships, the release said.

“As a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelors degree in community health education with an emphasis in fitness and nutrition, Emily also holds a certificate of non-profit fundraising management from Rockford University,” the release said. “Emily began her fundraising career in Rochelle where she grew up and worked for 9 years as the Foundation and Community Events Coordinator for the Rochelle Community Hospital.”

Anaya’s career led her to SwedishAmerican Foundation in Rockford where she has worked for the last seven years, most recently as Supervisor of Philanthropy and Major Gifts where she launched the first major gifts and grateful patient program which focused her fundraising for service lines that included breast cancer and pediatric physical medicine.

Anaya also had a major role in fundraising and program management for Chemo Cargo, capital and associate campaigns, yearly giving, events, estate planning, online silent auctions, online donations and appeals.

She has previously served on the allocation committee of the Rock Valley United Way and as a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Rockford Chapter.

“The power of philanthropy is unlike any other,” Anaya said. “Philanthropic gifts have an everlasting impact on the people and community it serves. This has a profound impact on the donor who ‘just wants to do good’ and the recipient who feels the everlasting effect each donation makes on their lives and the lives of others. The Rochelle Area Community Foundation has already changed the lives of others in so many positive ways, I am eager to help expand the reach to those in the Rochelle Community and outlying areas that are in need.”

Anaya and her husband are both from Rochelle where most of their family still resides. The couple has four children and three dogs. You might know Anaya from Anytime Fitness, where she has been teaching classes for nearly 11 years.

“The board of directors is excited to have Emily join the foundation in the role of executive director,” Trisha Vaughn, RACF board president, said.  “With her wealth of experience, initiative and leadership in philanthropy, we are confident that Emily will be an asset in fulfilling the foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life within the Rochelle area community. We look forward to the continued success of the foundation.”

The foundation will be offering a “meet and greet” open house at the RACF office on Tuesday, June 8 from 3-6 p.m. for the Rochelle area community and local nonprofit organization leaders to welcome Anaya.