President Bill Corcoran Leaves Anera at the End of June
May 5, 2017 | It is with both sadness and gratitude that the Anera Board of Directors announces Bill Corcoran’s resignation as president of Anera (American Near East Refugee Aid), effective June 30, 2017. Corcoran became president of Anera in January 2007.
“Under Bill’s capable and inspiring leadership,” says Board Chair David Nygaard, “Anera has had an impressive impact on lives of Palestinians and other refugees, delivering relief during crises as well as impactful development programs that make a lasting difference in people’s lives. Bill has more than doubled Anera’s revenue—from $31 million in 2007 to $72 million in 2017—and nearly tripled the size of its staff, from 59 in 2007 to 154 today.”
These are just a few highlights from Bill’s years at Anera:
- Implemented innovative education and sports programs in Lebanon’s Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps. 16,700 youths came back into the classroom to gain literacy, math and job skills.
- Another 70,000+ young people have taken advantage of the sports activities and facilities Anera built in their communities.
- Delivered 449 shipments of vital medicines and supplies, worth $380 million, to impoverished communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.
- Spearheaded early childhood development programming in the West Bank and Gaza. Anera’s preschool work has created new standards for teaching, infrastructure and parental involvement in school life. Anera has built or renovated 10% of the preschools and trained hundreds of teachers in Palestine.
- Linked millions of Palestinians to reliable sources of water in their homes, schools, medical facilities and agricultural fields.
- Improved family livelihoods by creating hundreds of jobs in construction, civic planning, health, education, tourism, and more.
- Delivered over $30 million in aid (food, fuel, water, blankets, hygiene kits, lights, medicines, etc.) in response to wars in Gaza and the refugee crisis in Lebanon.
“I feel so honored to have been part of the important work Anera does with refugees and poor communities across Palestine and Lebanon,” says Bill, who will be rejoining the Catholic priesthood after a 15-year absence. “Our excellent staff of professionals works with diligence and commitment to deliver relief and development programs to hundreds of thousands of people living in difficult conditions.”
Anera has immediately begun conducting a search to find its new president. During the transition period, Anera will continue with its work, maintaining a stable and effective organization throughout the process.
“Anera is in a solid position, thanks in large part to Bill’s hard work,” says Nygaard. “We will miss him, but we are grateful he’s left us poised to continue to assist disadvantaged families in the Middle East.”
For more information:
Leila Rafei
Media Relations Officer
202 266 9719
[email protected]
About Anera
Since 1968, Anera has been a leading provider of development, health, education, and employment programs to vulnerable communities and impoverished families throughout the Middle East. Anera reaches the region’s most vulnerable people with health, education and economic development programs and provides humanitarian and emergency relief in times of crisis. In 2016, the relief and development agency delivered over $57 million in programs to people in Lebanon and Palestine.