West Cook YMCA Names Phillip Jiménez as President/CEO

OAK PARK—March 21, 2014 Phillip Jiménez has been named President/CEO of the West Cook YMCA. He will take over from Martha Rolf, Interim CEO, on May 19, 2014.

Jiménez, a River Forest resident, holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Nonprofit Management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is also a graduate of the Latino Leadership Academy from the Latino Policy Forum.

Previously, Jiménez was the VP/COO of the National Museum of Mexican Art, and served as San Miguel Schools Chicago President and CEO. He has also been with Lutheran Child & Family Services in River Forest, Illinois, as Director of Advancement where he built critical infrastructure for a comprehensive advancement program and significantly strengthened the organization’s fundraising function.

Jiménez has a wide range of corporate and nonprofit management experience, including financial analysis, government negotiations, empowerment and diversity programs, international trade, community relations and board leadership. He volunteers as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and serves on the Boards of the Oak Park / River Forest Community Foundation, the Safer Foundation, and the Latino Giving Circle-Fund of the Chicago Community Trust. He is an Emeritus member of Mujeres Latinas En Accion, a founding member of the Hope for Grieving Children, and a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago.

“I feel very honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve the community and I look forward to collaborating with the staff, the board, and the ten communities the West Cook YMCA serves,” said Jiménez.

David Phelps, West Cook YMCA Board Chair, said, “The West Cook YMCAs Board of Directors was tremendously pleased with the highly qualified candidates that showed interest in the YMCA. Phillip brings experience with him that will surely assist our community YMCA launch another 110 years. We look forward to continued exploration of program expansion for the youth and families in the YMCA service area throughout West Cook and the leadership Phil will supply to that process. The board just completed a strategic plan which will serve as a roadmap for future endeavors and collaborations with others.”

Jiménez follows Jan Pate, who was President/CEO for five years. Pate is now the Vice President of Development for the YMCA in Boulder, CO. 

About the West Cook YMCA

The West Cook YMCA, located at 255 South Marion Street, Oak Park, was founded in 1903.

Annually, the West Cook YMCA serves more than 10,000 youth, families, seniors, and single adults of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Bellwood, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, River Grove and Stone Park with more than 100 weekly programs and classes focused on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

In recent years, the West Cook YMCA has been cited by the YMCA of the USA as a Global Center of Excellence, having built relationships with Ys in Kosovo and Japan and as a Diversity and Inclusion Y. It also assisted Oak Park earn national recognition from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the YMCA of the USA as a Pioneering Healthy Community.