News Ken Gladish to Lead Seton Foundations

Nationally Recognized Leader in Philanthropy to Start in November

AUSTIN, TX - (July 29, 2010) - The Seton Family of Hospitals and Austin Community Foundation jointly announced today that Dr. Ken Gladish has accepted the position of president and CEO of the Seton Foundations. He will begin his new role in November.

Gladish, who has served as president and CEO of the Austin Community Foundation (ACF) since 2008, is a nationally recognized leader in charitable and philanthropic endeavors. During his tenure, ACF raised more than $65 million in contributions and disbursed nearly $60 million to a wide range of charitable causes in Central Texas. Prior to joining ACF, Gladish served as president of the YMCA of the USA.

The Seton Family of Hospitals provided more than $430 million in charity care and community benefit during last fiscal year, according to reports with the State of Texas. Philanthropic support is critical to Seton's success to expand medical education and innovative research across Central Texas as part of its new partnership with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and The University of Texas System.

In his new role, Gladish will lead the Seton Foundations, which are comprised of The Seton Fund, the Children's Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas, the Seton Williamson Foundation and the Seton Hays Foundation. In partnership with generous donors, the Seton Foundations raised nearly $19 million last year to support Seton's health care ministry. These funds help pay for charity care, new infrastructure, technology, programs and services. For example, philanthropy annually funds nearly one-third of the Seton Community Health Centers' operations, which provide services to 12,600 low-income families.

In commenting on Gladish's transition, Sylvia Acevedo, chair of the ACF Board of Governors, said, "Ken has been a very positive force at ACF and in the larger community. He will be missed, but we know that he will remain a strong supporter of our work as he leads Seton's philanthropic efforts."

"The future of our region of Texas depends on the health and well being of everyone living in the communities we call home," said Gladish. "There is no more important contributor to our quality of life than the Seton Family of Hospitals. Seton's work is worthy of the strongest possible contributed support from our fellow citizens. It will be an incredible privilege to be a partner in assuring the vitality of this essential mission and the historic ministry of Seton."

"As Seton welcomes Ken, we look forward to benefitting from his expertise and vision in helping Seton continue to raise the funds necessary to ensure every Central Texas resident receives the best available health care, regardless of ability to pay," said Charles J. Barnett, FACHE, president and CEO, Seton Family of Hospitals. "We know Ken will continue the leadership provided to our Foundations during Gene Attal's distinguished service."

For 35 years, Attal was instrumental in making the Seton Foundations the successful charity organization it is today. Under his leadership, Seton's fundraising efforts supported the opening of the region's first neonatal intensive care unit, its only heart transplant center and Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, a member of the Seton Family of Hospitals.

Since Attal's departure, Gerald Hill has been serving as the Seton Foundations interim president. Hill will continue in his role as senior vice president of Advocacy and executive director of the Seton Hays Foundation.