Helen Keller International Appoints Sue Mather as Senior Vice President of Development and Communications

New York, May 12, 2005 – Helen Keller International (HKI) has appointed Sue Mather as Senior Vice President of Development and Communications.  In this capacity, Ms. Mather is responsible for global fundraising and publicity and for determining the development strategy that enables the organization to reach its financial goals. 

With twenty years experience in the nonprofit world, Ms. Mather has achieved notable successes in fundraising and communications.  Her specialties include the development of fundraising programs that build sustainable organizational revenue, cultivation of funding sources, active engagement of boards and committees in fundraising efforts, and creation of brand identity for organizations.

Ms. Mather has most recently been the Director of Development and Communications, Americas for ORBIS International, a global nonprofit organization headquartered in New York and dedicated to eliminating preventable blindness in the developing world.  In this capacity, Ms. Mather directed the comprehensive expansion of fundraising and communications plans and programs, resulting in a revenue increase of 36% in 2005 and an increase of media placements of 400% in 2004 and an additional 200% in 2005.

Prior to her work with ORBIS, Ms. Mather worked in both healthcare and education, including ten years with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America where her several roles included National Director, Major Gifts and National Field Director.  She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Women in Development.

Ms. Mather joined HKI at the headquarters office in New York on May 11th.  She replaces former Senior Vice President of Development and Communications Kris Dasgupta.