Director of Development Updates

It is with mixed emotions that we share some exciting news with all of you - an upcoming farewell and an exciting welcome!

In August, our dedicated Director of Development, Eric Frank, announced his well-deserved retirement, effective October 31, 2023.

Eric has been an integral part of our Catholic Charities family for nearly 13 years, and he has truly been a driving force behind our growth and success. As our first-ever Development Director, Eric has not only embraced his role but also carried it out with a constant smile and unwavering dedication.

While we will certainly miss Eric's invaluable contributions, we are overjoyed to see him take this step towards a well-deserved retirement. Eric and his wife, CJ, have been planning this for some time, and we couldn't be happier for them to have the opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest while they are still young and healthy. In fact, they have an exciting trip to Hawaii planned shortly after Eric's last day with us!

During his tenure, Eric has played a pivotal role in nurturing significant partnerships that have enabled us to secure vital resources for our ever-growing agency. Notable milestones include the establishment of the Salina facility in 2017 and the generous donation of the Hays facility in 2022. Eric's vision and dedication have helped us realize these achievements, and his impact will be felt for years to come.

Please join me in congratulating and thanking Eric for his outstanding service to Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas. We are immensely grateful for his passion, leadership, and commitment, which have left an indelible mark on our organization. We encourage all of you to send him your congratulations and gratitude at [email protected]. 

We are planning a celebration and send-off for Eric that will be held here in Salina. Mark your calendars for October 31. Please feel free to come and go anytime between 4-6 p.m. Visit our Facebook event for more information on this event.Join us in thanking Eric for his amazing work and wishing him well in his next chapter!  

Now, as we bid a fond farewell to Eric, we are delighted to introduce you to our new Director of Development, Jessica Allen. She's passionate about service and community, and we are confident that she will continue to build on Eric's legacy and drive our development efforts to new heights.

Many of you might already know Jessica as a dedicated Catholic Charities Ambassador since 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a minor in Business from Kansas State University. Her professional journey includes valuable experience at Salina Regional Health Center as a member of the Physician Recruitment and Business Development team, seven years of dedicated service at Big Brothers Big Sisters as a program director, and most recently, a role in Donor Services at the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Her commitment to service extends beyond her professional life, as she has been a dedicated volunteer with the Love, Chloe Foundation for the past 15 years.

Jessica and her husband, Matt, are parents to four daughters and have a lively household with three dogs and a cat. She enjoys time with family and friends, kayaking, school activities, and giving back through volunteer work. Her family is part of the vibrant community at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish in Salina.

Jessica officially started her new role on Monday, October 9, and she'll spend three weeks working alongside Eric, learning from his wealth of experience, and getting to know all of you, our cherished supporters. We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter and look forward to your continued support as we work together to serve families in need throughout northern Kansas.

Please feel free to reach out to Jessica at [email protected] with any questions, ideas, or to extend your warm welcome.

Thank you for your continued support, and let's look forward to an exciting future with Jessica leading our development efforts.