Make-A-Wish North Texas announced on Monday that its new president and chief executive officer is Kim Elenez, according to a news release.
Elenez has combined her experience to help nonprofits, communities, and businesses develop for over 20 years. As the first chief marketing officer of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), she created its first-ever comprehensive development marketing plan, which assisted in raising more than $600 million annually.
“Kim is the right leader to help us take Make-A-Wish North Texas to new heights,” stated Vik Bhatia, board chair of Make-A-Wish North Texas. “Her enthusiasm for Make-A-Wish and impressive strategic vision will be critical in the coming years.”
Prior to working at UNC, Elenez directed efforts to generate revenue for D Media Partners in Dallas before shifting to Integer, a marketing agency. In this position, Elenez oversaw a team that developed growth plans for PepsiCo, ExxonMobil, Philips, and other brands. She has been on the boards of various charity organizations since 2013 and has won numerous national and international awards for marketing excellence.
“I have admired the work and mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for years,” stated Elenez. “Wishes are a game-changer for children with critical illness, and I am honored to be chosen as the next CEO in North Texas to lead this important work.”
“I look forward to working alongside a talented and dedicated team across our 161-county territory to drive forward our mission of creating life-changing wishes. Together, we will focus every day on bringing more joy to the deserving children of the entire North Texas region,” she added.
Elenez is also a co-founder of the Zambian Rural Women’s Empowerment Fund, which offers financing and assistance to rural women business owners. Her experience in Zambia has inspired her to share experiences and concentrate her efforts on significantly impacting the world.
Make-A-Wish states that its mission is “together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.” Children battling serious illnesses have had hundreds of thousands of wishes granted through Make-A-Wish.