NEW YORK, NY—September 17, 2009—Ellen Merlo of New York has been appointed Chair of the New York Region's Executive Committee of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Ms. Merlo has been a longtime supporter and advocate of the Weizmann Institute of Science–one of the world's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions, located in Rehovot, Israel.
As part of her philanthropic leadership appointment, Ms. Merlo will direct efforts to raise awareness and expand the reach of the Weizmann Institute of Science, while also championing the Institute's crucial work to address the biggest challenges facing humanity. She will aim to further involve current New York supporters and recruit new supporters. Ms. Merlo will succeed Bruce Pollack, who served as Chair of the New York Region's Executive Committee for four years.
Throughout her 33 years of employment with Philip Morris USA (PMUSA), Ms. Merlo held a variety of positions, including Vice President of Marketing Services, where she was responsible for Marketing Programs such as Event Sponsorship and Database Development. She also served as a Director of Brand Management.
Prior to her retirement in 2003, Ms. Merlo was Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at PMUSA. She directed internal and external communications; public affairs activities; corporate responsibility planning and programs; and consumer affairs and community relations, including charitable grants on behalf of the company. She also served as senior spokesperson.
"Ellen Merlo is among the American Committee's most devoted and active leaders," Larry Blumberg, national Chairman of the organization, said. "I am delighted that she has agreed to lead the New York Region. Ellen's passion for the Weizmann Institute is contagious, and her ability to communicate the importance of our mission is so valuable as we seek to expand our circle of supporters in New York and beyond."
Her appointment to the leadership position recognizes Ms. Merlo's long-standing dedication to the Weizmann Institute of Science. She has been a New York Regional Executive Committee member, a member of the American Committee's Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, and has been nominated as a member of the International Board of Governors of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Ms. Merlo also recently chaired a national task force for the American Committee on positioning and visibility, and at the 2009 Global Gathering in Los Angeles, she was inducted into the prestigious President's Circle. Since her retirement, Ms. Merlo has taken on active roles in other philanthropic organizations as well, including serving as Vice President of the Baron de Hirsch Fund, and heading up her own charitable foundation, the Pearl Welinsky Merlo Foundation.
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (ACWIS), founded in 1944, develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, one of the world's premier scientific research institutions. The Weizmann Institute is a center of multidisciplinary scientific research and graduate study, addressing crucial problems in medicine and health, technology, energy, agriculture, and the environment. For additional information, please visit www.weizmann-usa.org.