CWLA Names Dick Maggiore to Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 17, 2004) - The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) today announced that it has elected Dick Maggiore, president and chief executive officer of Innis Maggiore Group in Canton, Ohio, to its board of directors. Maggiore will serve a three-year term guiding the CWLA, a national organization of agencies that provide services to children.

"Dick Maggiore will be a tremendous asset to the CWLA and its work with children," said Shay Bilchik, the league's president and CEO. "Dick has dedicated more than two decades to working with children in Ohio, and has built a very successful advertising and public relations firm with his expertise in communications."

Maggiore is a long-time volunteer for Pathway Caring for Children, a member of the CWLA. He has also served on the Canton organization's board for more than 12 years, and has provided pro bono counsel and services to Pathway for nearly two decades. Maggiore is also a member of FirstMerit Corp.'s Board, Kent State University Board, the American Association of Advertising Agencies Cleveland Council Board of Governors and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Board. In 2003, Dick received the distinguished Community Salute Award from the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Innis Maggiore Group is an advertising and public relations firm with more than 50 associates at offices in Canton and Youngstown, Ohio. The company more than doubled in size between 2000 and 2003, when capitalized billings exceeded $32 million. In 2003, Advertising Age ranked Innis Maggiore the fastest-growing agency in Ohio for the second straight year.

Established in 1920, CWLA has nearly 1,100 public and voluntary member agencies, which provide direct services to abused, neglected, abandoned, and otherwise vulnerable children and their families. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization is a leading advocate for quality child welfare services and federal legislation to benefit children and families. The CWLA trains thousands of social workers and conducts numerous conferences and meetings each year, develops child abuse treatment and prevention strategies, conducts original research, and is the oldest and largest publisher of child welfare materials in North America.