Leader of Riley Children’s Foundation to retire
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Indianapolis-based Riley Children’s Foundation will be looking for a new leader after a recent stretch of historic fundraising. The foundation’s president and CEO, Elizabeth Elkas, announced this week she will retire at the end of the year.
Elkas joined Riley in 2019 after leading fundraising at the Indiana University School of Medicine. As Elkas prepares to depart, Riley celebrated her work in raising money for the organization at historic levels.
In the last fiscal year, Riley reported it raised $74 million, which the foundation says is the highest amount ever “by far” and double what was it raised annually before Elkas joined Riley.
“Leading Riley Children’s Foundation has been an extraordinary privilege,” Elkas said in a news release. “As a mother and now grandmother myself, I know there is nothing more important or precious than our children’s health. I’m humbled by the thought that the money we raise can be used to help a child with asthma breathe easier, buoy a researcher working to conquer childhood cancer, or support a teen who is struggling with depression.”
Elkas’ retirement coincides with Riley Children’s 100th anniversary and the foundation’s board chair J. Murray Clark said Elkas’ work helped pave the way for the hospital’s future.
“The timing of Liz’s retirement, against the backdrop of Riley’s 100th anniversary, is especially meaningful,” Clark said in the release. “She is extremely proud of the role Riley Children’s Foundation played in establishing Riley Hospital and sustaining it for the past 100 years. In many ways, it’s fitting that she’s retiring at the close of Riley’s centennial year after helping pave the way for a second century of unrivaled care for kids.”
Riley’s board of governors will begin searching for a new president.