Marcia Smith Appointed Vice President of The Atlantic Philanthropies

New York, March 3, 2008 — Marcia Smith, an award-winning documentary film maker with extensive foundation and government experience, has been appointed Vice-President of The Atlantic Philanthropies, President and Chief Executive Officer Gara LaMarche announced today. Smith will over see Atlantic’s programmes on Disadvantaged Children and Youth and Population Health, as well as serving on the organisation’s senior management team.

Marcia has a long and diverse history of working for change in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people, LaMarche said. She has a strong background in government, philanthropy and journalism, and the mix of these, along with her management and personal qualities, and wide contacts and respect in philanthropy and among non-profit organisations, will be a great addition to Atlantic in our final decade.

Smith is currently President of Firelight Media, an independent not-for-profit documentary film production company based in Oakland. Prior to that work she spent eight years at the Ford Foundation, first as a Program Officer in Rights and Social Justice, where she managed a portfolio on racial justice, women’s rights, and media; then as a Program Officer and, subsequently, Deputy Director, of Governance and Civil Society. Earlier she served in senior positions in New York City government. She will start at Atlantic’s New York headquarters later in the Spring.

About The Atlantic Philanthropies

The Atlantic Philanthropies are dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Atlantic makes grants through its four programme areas – Ageing, Children & Youth, Population Health, and Reconciliation & Human Rights – and through Founding Chairman grants. Programmes funded by Atlantic operate in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam. To learn more, please visit: atlanticphilanthropies.org.