English to Transition After 10 Years of Leadership
WASHINGTON, DC (September 14, 2016) - Fight For Children, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that improves educational outcomes and opportunities for early childhood students in the DC metro area, announced today that Michela English, President & CEO of Fight For Children, will be stepping down from her role in December of this year. English, who has been involved with Fight For Children since 2006, leaves her tenure after successfully leading the transition from a founder-driven organization to a sustainable, independent and impactful nonprofit.
Fight For Children began more than 26 years ago with the goal of improving education and healthcare services for underserved children and their families. Under English’s leadership, the organization has worked to increase impact by focusing resources more strategically on improving the quality of early childhood education in Washington, DC.
“Fight For Children has been an unbelievable catalyst in raising awareness and support for DC’s early childhood initiatives,” said Tony Williams, former District of Columbia Mayor, CEO/Executive Director of the Federal City Council and member of Fight For Children’s Board of Directors. “Michela’s leadership and contributions to the progress of our great city cannot be understated.”
Under English’s leadership, Fight For Children increased annual revenue nearly 80% through a combination of private donations and growth in corporate sponsorships of the well-known annual fundraising event, Fight Night. In 2013, English led the launch of Fight for Children’s signature program, Joe’s Champs, which has brought best practices in early childhood education to 60 school leaders and 300 teachers, helping them prepare DC’s youngest learners for success in school and beyond.
“Michela has been instrumental in helping Fight For Children continue its incredible work as an agent of change within the District,” said Raul Fernandez, Vice Chair of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Chairman of Fight For Children’s Board of Directors. “Our accomplishments would not have been possible without her exceptional leadership, strong relationships, and dedication to DC’s youngest citizens.”
Keith Gordon, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume leadership of Fight For Children upon English’s departure. Gordon, who previously served as President of the National Football League Players Incorporated joined Fight For Children in 2015, bringing his entrepreneurial leadership and business development experience to the Fight For Children team. English will continue serving as an active Board member for Fight For Children and will maintain her involvement in other corporate and nonprofit ventures.
About Fight for Children
The late Joseph E. Robert, Jr., created Fight For Children and Fight Night in 1990 as a way to marshal resources to help children from low-income communities in the nation’s capital secure a brighter future. Since 2012, Raul Fernandez, Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, has served as Chairman for Fight For Children’s Board of Directors. Fight For Children’s programs focus on improving the quality of early childhood education for at-risk children in the Washington, DC area. For further information, please visit www.fightforchildren.org
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