Syracuse, N.Y. -- Meg O’Connell, executive director of the Allyn Family Foundation for the past 30 years, is retiring at the end of this year.
O’Connell today announced her retirement from the philanthropic organization that has been a force behind some of downtown Syracuse’s resurgence. Maarten Jacobs, currently the organization’s director of community prosperity, will take over her position, according to an email O’Connell sent out today.
"When I started with the Allyn Foundation in 1995, it was a small family effort. Today, the Foundation has grown into a trusted partner and catalyst for change – supporting innovative programs, building community, and investing in the people who make this region such a special place‚" O’Connell wrote.
The Allyn Foundation grew into a community force, backed by $95 million in assets, after the Allyn family sold its Welch Allyn medical equipment company to Hillrom in 2015 for more than $2 billion.
O’Connell is married to Eric Allyn.
After the sale, with O’Connell at the helm, the family’s foundation made bold investments in downtown Syracuse. The organization is behind the Salt City Market and the new iteration of the Chimes Building.
Jacobs oversaw the design, construction, and management of the Salt City Market, as well as the renovation of the Chimes Building in downtown Syracuse.
“Rarely does a person wake up every day and love their job as much as I have,” O’Connell wrote in her message announcing her retirement. “Together, we’ve learned that real impact happens when we come together as a community to challenge inequities and create opportunities.”
