Henry Timms was appointed yesterday as executive director of the 92nd Street Y, the first non-Jewish leader in the 140-year history of the organization. He was the deputy executive director for innovation, strategy and content and had served as interim executive director since last summer.
Timms succeeds Sol Adler, who resigned as executive director last July after an investigation revealed an alleged kickback scheme at the Manhattan-based nonprofit as well as an undisclosed personal relationship with a subordinate. Four employees were removed in all.
One of five national finalists for Independent Sector’s 2014 American Express Next Generation Leadership award, Timms is credited with the creation of #GivingTuesday, an annual day of giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (Dec. 2 this year). Last year, more than $30 million was donated to charities around the country, an increase of 90 percent over the inaugural event in 2012.
92Y is affiliated with the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA) and is a member of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North American and an agency of United Jewish Appeal-Federation (UJA). The organization reported total revenue of $79 million in the fiscal year ending June 2012, the most recent year available.