LEDYARD (April 27, 2006) – After nearly 16 years as the leader of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, Janet Pearce announced her retirement at the organization’s Annual Meeting on April 27. Her retirement, which caps a successful 30-year career with United Way, will take effect at the end of the year, or when a successor is named.

“I have been in conversation with members of our Executive Committee for nearly six months to determine the best time and place to announce this decision, for me and for the organization, and this is the time,” Ms. Pearce said. “I will be here, working as hard as ever over the next eight months, or until my successor is named, while the Board begins the search for a new United Way president.”

Board Chair Ulysses Hammond, who ended his one-year term at the Annual Meeting, praised Ms. Pearce for her accomplishments and dedicated community service to the citizens of Southeastern Connecticut.

“Janet Pearce has worked tirelessly to make our United Way the fine and trustworthy organization it is,” Mr. Hammond said. “I have seen first-hand how much time and energy goes into sustaining and growing United Way, year after year, campaign after campaign. Janet truly deserves our deepest appreciation.”

Incoming Board Chair Bill Rountree, who began his term at the Annual Meeting, said he is thankful Ms. Pearce will remain at the helm during the leadership transition.

“Janet’s knowledge of this organization, her understanding of our community and its needs, and her genuine desire to live out United Way’s motto to ‘make a difference’ are invaluable,” Mr. Rountree said. “Her leadership has left us in a sound position from which to move forward.”

When Ms. Pearce began as the Executive Director (later President) at United Way of Southeastern Connecticut in November, 1990, the annual campaign raised $3.6 million. The most recent campaign raised more than $8 million – which is being invested locally in more than 90 health and human service programs that will help nearly 150,000 people in need throughout the year.

Ms. Pearce said she is particularly proud of the growth of the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center – a unique partnership between United Way, organized labor and the entire community. Currently the Food Center distributes more than 1.5 million pounds of food that, in turn, helps provide more than 1 million meals and snacks annually through 85 free food distribution sites in New London County.

Her United Way career began as a loaned executive to the United Way of Cleveland in 1975. “I decided this was the work I wanted to do in the future,” Ms. Pearce said. “And what a future it has been.”

In 1976, Ms. Pearce became the campaign director in the Fairfax-Falls Church Region of United Way for the National Capital Area. Three years later, she was named executive director of the United Way of Adams County in Quincy, Ill. In 1983 she became campaign director, and later executive vice president for the United Way of Long Island.

While President of the region’s United Way, she has served on numerous civic organizations, including the Board of Directors of the Thames Valley Council for Community Action and chairwoman of the Military Community Council. She currently is a member of the New London Rotary Club, the Blue Ribbon Housing Initiative and co-chair of the regional Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness.