Kerr Leaves Mile High United Way After Nearly Five Years as Chief Impact Officer
DENVER – The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona announced Wednesday that it has appointed Vanecia Kerr as president and CEO of the 103-year-old organization following a nationwide search. Kerr will be leaving Metro Denver where she has lived for many years and has had a tremendous impact on thousands of individuals, most recently as chief impact officer of Mile High United Way.
“I have learned you can hold two very distinct emotions: great loss and overwhelming pride and excitement for someone you admire greatly and get to call friend,” said Christine Benero, Mile High United president and CEO. “The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona could not have made a better decision than to recruit Vanecia and bring her incredible leadership skills to their community. We will miss her in Denver and appreciate all she has done for our community.”
Kerr joined Mile High United Way, the first United Way in the world, in November 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Since then, she has been responsible for developing, leading and implementing Mile High United Way’s Community Impact Division, overseeing a portfolio of programs that serve nearly 13,000 people and distribute over $5 million to nonprofits and small businesses a year. She also has worked to engage community, government and business leaders to ensure continuous evaluation, learning and effectiveness.
“This decision is bittersweet. I am incredibly excited for this next chapter, but it is difficult to leave such an extraordinary team, incredible organization, and amazing community,” Kerr said. “The work we have accomplished together — expanding our reach, launching innovative programs, deepening our evaluation and learning efforts, and strengthening our internal systems — has been some of the most meaningful work of my career.”
Before joining Mile High United Way, Kerr served as regional executive director of College Track Colorado and managing director of marketing, communications and development for City Year Denver. She began her career in the corporate sector, most recently as regional director of community affairs for TIAA-CREF. Her work there inspired her to spend the next half of her career dedicated to addressing needs in local communities.
Kerr was named the 9News Leader of the Year in 2023, the American Heart Association’s Woman of Impact in 2022, one of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Top 25 Most Powerful Women in 2018, and one of Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business also in 2018.
Kerr will begin her new role in Tucson on June 23.
Read the announcement from the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona.
About Mile High United Way
Working side-by-side with the community, Mile High United Way takes on critical human services issues facing our seven-county footprint, including the Metro Denver, Boulder and Broomfield communities. Our united approach changes the odds for all children, families, and individuals in our community, so that all have the opportunity to succeed. Learn more at unitedwaydenver.org and follow us on social media @UnitedWayDenver.
