Willow Glen Resident

News

Former executive editor takes top United Way job

By Stephen Baxter

Carole Leigh Hutton, the former executive editor of the San Jose Mercury News, became president and CEO of United Way Silicon Valley on Feb. 27.

United Way board members said they wanted an energetic spokeswoman to help publicize the charity's work and court more corporate sponsors.

"She's got a great combination of skills," said Dick Levy, chairman of United Way's board of directors. "She comes from newspapers, and she has a lot of experience in philanthropy."

Hutton, who has lived in San Jose's Almaden Valley since 2005, has worked in newspapers for 25 years and was executive editor at the Mercury News for eight months. She was the vice president of news for Knight Ridder, and in 2004, she was editor and publisher of the Detroit Free Press.

Hutton said she expressed interest in the United Way position as soon as she learned it was open.

"I've always been involved in philanthropy, and I thought more than once that it would be a good transition. But each time I thought about making that move, I got drawn back to newspapers," Hutton said.

"I don't think the transition from running a newsroom is that great--both are about doing things that make an impact on the community," she said.

The nonprofit United Way Silicon Valley has a $14 million annual budget that supports more than 30 programs and services for local children and families. It has helped fund the free, year-old 211 phone line in Santa Clara County, which connects callers to hundreds of programs for children and senior citizens. It also helps residents with disaster relief and other services.

United Way Silicon Valley leaders say they have studied the county's most pressing needs and they target programs that provide long-term solutions.

As Hutton settles in to her new role, United Way's headquarters at 1922 The Alameda in the Rose Garden area is set to move.

The group and its 40 employees are expected to move to the Sobrato Center for Nonprofits at 1400 Parkmoor Ave. by June 30, a United Way spokeswoman said.

Rent would be free at the Sobrato Center, which is set to open this spring and will include other nonprofit groups. United Way leaders said the move made sense financially.

For more information on United Way Silicon Valley, visit www. uwsv.org.