Richard R. Buery, Jr. Named New President and CEO of The Children's Aid Society
NEW YORK, July 20, 2009 — The Board of Trustees of The Children's Aid Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard R. Buery, Jr. as the agency's new President and Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed C. Warren Moses, who will retire at the organization's annual meeting in October.
"Richard Buery is a talented leader and a man of incredible intellect, skill and creativity who understands the challenges that poor families in New York City face," said Angela Diaz, M.D., M.P.H., President of the Board of Trustees of The Children's Aid Society. "He has taken a social entrepreneurial approach to finding solutions for tough issues, and his emphases on accountability and on outcomes make him an excellent choice to lead The Children's Aid Society in this environment. He was the unanimous selection of the Board, and we are looking forward to working with him."
In addition, Diaz noted: "C. Warren Moses has dedicated his career to helping the neediest children in New York City overcome the disadvantages of poverty. During his 40-year tenure at The Children's Aid Society, he has created many noteworthy initiatives that have touched the lives of countless children and families. His impact on the agency has been significant and will be lasting."
About Richard R. Buery, Jr.
Buery, 37, is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Groundwork, Inc., a nonprofit organization established to create transformative change for families living in public housing in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Buery has demonstrated his social commitment and innovative thinking since his days as an undergraduate student at Harvard College, where he co-founded the Mission Hill Summer Program, an enrichment program for children in the Mission Hill Housing Development in the Roxbury section of Boston.
"For over 150 years, The Children's Aid Society has been synonymous with innovation, effectiveness, and zealous advocacy on behalf of New York City's children," said Buery. "I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this institution, and look forward to working with Children's Aid's board, staff, and - most important - the families we serve. I am fortunate to be taking the reins when Children's Aid is in a position of relative strength. These are difficult times, but it is precisely during times like these that we must focus on what is most important - investing in the health, happiness, and well-being of our children."
After graduating from Harvard with honors, he served as a teacher at an orphanage school in rural Zimbabwe and as a campaign manager and political director in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following his graduation from Yale Law School, Buery clerked for a federal judge and was a staff attorney at the Brennan Center for Justice. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded iMentor, a mentoring program connecting middle and high school students with volunteer mentors through online and in-person meetings.
"Children's Aid Society has made an excellent selection. Under Rich's leadership, Groundwork has blossomed into a strong and important community institution, and we're extremely proud that Rich now has the opportunity to contribute his talents and commitment to children at an even broader scale. All of us at Groundwork are genuinely excited about the contribution he will make to New York City in his new role," said Matthew Klein, Chair, Groundwork Board of Directors.
Growing up in one of New York City's most underserved communities, Buery was profoundly affected by the different opportunities available to young people he grew up with in East New York, Brooklyn and those he went to school with at New York City's prestigious Stuyvesant High School. He was inspired to return to his native East New York and found Groundwork to realize his belief that all children can succeed when they and their families are given the resources to do so. Groundwork's programs include after-school and summer academic enrichment programs, college access programs, a family resource center, financial counseling, legal representation, emergency housing assistance, and public benefits access. The agency was recently awarded a 2009 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Award for excellent management, one of many honors the organization has received in recognition of its work on behalf of New York City's children and families.
"I am very pleased that Richard Buery will be joining and leading Children's Aid," said C. Warren Moses. "He believes in change driven by impact on the lives of our children. I know that he has the compassion, commitment to the poor, skills and leadership ability to direct the agency and is excited that Children's Aid is able to provide comprehensive supports to have a transforming impact on families. I am confident that the staff will be excited to meet and work with him."
The Children's Aid Society (www.childrensaidsociety.org) was founded in 1853. It is one of the nation's largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving 150,000 of New York's neediest children and their families with a network of services that includes adoption and foster care services, teen pregnancy prevention, education, health, juvenile justice, arts programming and recreation. The Children's Aid Society is a founding member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the vast majority of Children's Aid sites are Boys & Girls Clubs. For more information, please call 212-949-4938 or email ellenl@childrensaidsociety.org.
