Buffalo, NY — The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is pleased to announce that Cindy Odom has joined the organization as Chief Community Impact Officer (CCIO). For 100 years, the Community Foundation has been committed to working with individuals, families, foundations and organizations to make the most of their generosity and maximize their charitable assets.
“Cindy Odom brings deep knowledge of our community, significant experience and a visionary and values-based leadership style that will further our transformative work on behalf of our clients,” said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. “She will ensure that our growing portfolio of initiatives continue to be collaborative, coordinated and effectively integrated to advance our community impact strategy.”
Odom brings over 20 years of leadership experience to the position, most recently serving as Interim President and Chief Advancement Officer for Hillside Children’s Foundation, where she was responsible for a $9.2 million budget for fund development activities as related to income generation. She previously served as Executive Director of Hillside, overseeing a staff of 300, over 25 programs and a $12 million budget. Prior to that, Odom had a distinguished 16-year career with the Girl Scouts, serving as Chief Executive Officer after leading a nine-county merger that resulted in the Girl Scouts of Western New York. Later, she served as Council Leadership Strategist for the Girl Scouts of the USA.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to use my experience in empowering teams, maximizing efficiencies and providing strategic direction to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to support its vision of creating a vibrant and inclusive Greater Buffalo region with opportunity for all,” said Odom. “As the Community Foundation celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, I look forward to helping the organization work toward creating lasting change for the next 100 years and beyond.”
Odom earned her Master of Science in Management from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Canisius College. She is currently a Board Member of the Buffalo State College Council and Chair of the WNY Women’s Foundation.
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Celebrating its centennial year in 2019, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo was established in 1919 to enhance and encourage long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. For 100 years the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at www.cfgb.org.