Our Staff

Natalee Colón Gunderson joined YCCF as President & CEO on March 1, 2024, after twelve years with the York Water Company where she last served as Vice President of Human Resources.   In addition to her years of leadership and management experience at The York Water Company, Natalee brings with her a deep understanding of our community. Her strategic mindset and long-standing connections within York County along with her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion position Natalee as the ideal leader for YCCF’s next chapter.  Natalee’s service to our community is demonstrated through her tenure on boards such as The United Way of York County, Logos Academy, The Appell Center for the Performing Arts, The York College Board of Trustees, and The PA Council on the Arts.  Prior to becoming President & CEO, Natalee played key roles at YCCF as a member of both the Grant Distribution Committee and the Racial Equity Fund Committee.  Natalee is an early riser and enjoys cooking for friends and family. She also enjoys being outside, hiking, biking, and playing pickleball.    In 2023, Natalee was honored as an emerging leader on Central Penn Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" list.  She earned her bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from York College of Pennsylvania and is a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional.     

Mary Kay Bernosky is passionate about creating thriving and vibrant communities. As an astute fundraiser for over 12 years, Mary Kay believes YCCF is the place for partnerships with those who want to give and invest in the future of York County. As the new Vice President of Development for YCCF, Mary Kay brings a law degree from the College of William and Mary Law, and an MBA in Non-Profit Leadership from Alvernia University. As the former CEO of Safe Berks, a nonprofit agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, Mary Kay built relationships with hundreds of donors to raise more than $4 million to construct a new, comprehensive and sustainable facility to house the myriad of Safe Berks services, including emergency shelter. She also led the organization through a strategic rebranding to better reflect the services it provided to the community. An avid reader, Mary Kay can often be found outside with a good book or walking one of our local trails.  Mary Kay is inspired by knowing she is supporting programs and projects that have enormous community impact. Mary Kay is excited to be working in the York community and is ready to help Yorkers turn their passion into their legacy.

Meredith serves as the Foundation’s Vice President of Finance & Operations. Meredith's primary responsibilities include retaining the confidence of stakeholders by ensuring good stewardship of the funds entrusted to the Foundation; growing endowments for future generations; and sustaining high caliber customer service.  She also leads the Finance Department and is accountable for business strategy, sound financial and investment management, and highly effective operations. Meredith joined YCCF from the County of York where she had worked since 2015. She has both nonprofit and private sector business experience. Most recently, she was tapped to be the CFO for the County to oversee the $660 million budget and served on the County’s implementation team for strategic planning.  Meredith also worked with the County’s investment managers for their pension program. Meredith holds an MBA from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing on her deck and traveling. You can also find her bicycling on one of York County’s rail trails.

Sarah Thomas, Vice President of Communications and Culture, joined the foundation in 2016. Using her nearly 20 years of communications experience, Sarah sets the marketing strategy for the Community Foundation, and tells the stories of donors, grantees, and YCCF’s impact in the community. Through media relations, donor and grantee communications, advertising, events, the YCCF website and social media channels, and the Foundation’s Annual Report, she creates opportunities for York Countians to learn about the Foundation and join us in reaching our vision for our community. Sarah also leads recruitment efforts for YCCF, and ensures that the foundation uses best practices in employee retention and morale building. Sarah’s work has gained industry accolades, including an international MarComm Gold Award for YCCF’s York Academy video. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lycoming College. She is a member of the Uptown York Rotary Club and finds it to be a great way to keep up on what’s happening in the community. Her passions include cars, boating, and spending time with her husband and Scottish Terrier.

Mary Kay Bernosky is passionate about creating thriving and vibrant communities. As an astute fundraiser for over 12 years, Mary Kay believes YCCF is the place for partnerships with those who want to give and invest in the future of York County. As the new Vice President of Development for YCCF, Mary Kay brings a law degree from the College of William and Mary Law, and an MBA in Non-Profit Leadership from Alvernia University. As the former CEO of Safe Berks, a nonprofit agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, Mary Kay built relationships with hundreds of donors to raise more than $4 million to construct a new, comprehensive and sustainable facility to house the myriad of Safe Berks services, including emergency shelter. She also led the organization through a strategic rebranding to better reflect the services it provided to the community. An avid reader, Mary Kay can often be found outside with a good book or walking one of our local trails.  Mary Kay is inspired by knowing she is supporting programs and projects that have enormous community impact. Mary Kay is excited to be working in the York community and is ready to help Yorkers turn their passion into their legacy.

As Gift Planning Officer, Philip Woods assists York County citizens and organizations turning their passions and missions into lasting legacies for our community. Phil cultivates relationships with YCCF’s donors, providing exceptional customer service and guidance to current fundholders, legacy members and prospective donors. Phil’s goal is to engage donors in becoming more connected to the community through their philanthropy.   A graduate of Shippensburg University with a Major in Finance and Minor in Economics, Phil spent the first 15+ years of his career in the financial services industry, serving individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations as a professional financial advisor. He’s currently President of the Board of Directors and in his twelfth year overall as a volunteer for York City Little League. Phil is an active member of the Rotary Club of York, sitting on the board and three committees, and a 12-year volunteer for Junior Achievement. Phil also supports the Northeastern Little League and both the York High Varsity baseball and football teams.   Phil has been married to his wife Lisa, also a native Yorker, for over 10 years and together they have two children. The Woods family has embraced a culture of volunteering by planting trees in the City of York, participating in York City clean-up efforts, serving meals to those in need, visiting local nursing home residents, participating in Wreaths Across America events for veterans, assisting both York City and Northeastern Little League operations and contributing to  various fundraising efforts.  

Anne made the decision to join the Development team at YCCF because she enjoys building relationships and assisting people with their charitable giving. Her previous experience includes grants administration with Baltimore Community Foundation and as the Donor Relations Administrator with T. Rowe Price Charitable. Anne is the Development Administrator where she is responsible for processing and acknowledging gifts to the Community Foundation and providing support to the Women’s Giving Circle. In her free time, Anne enjoys biking on the Heritage Rail Trail, gardening, equestrian sports and exploring lesser-known towns and villages in the area. Anne notes one of her most memorable accomplishments was volunteering with the National SPCA in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana one month after Hurricane Katrina.

As Executive Director of Embracing Aging & TroveStreet®, Cathy Bollinger is honored to carry on the legacy of Anna Gardner, who over 100 years ago gifted her estate to be used to care for older single women in York County and has now evolved into York County Community Foundation’s long-term Embracing Aging initiative. With over 30 years’ experience as a strategic thinker and innovative problem-solver in both for-profit and non-profit settings, Cathy works with community stakeholders to improve how people experience aging in York county.  She develops strategies and leads Embracing Aging's grantmaking to disrupt negative views on aging. Cathy increases the understanding of the needs of older adults and helps enhance their quality of life. Cathy works to introduce and improve age-friendly public policies and physical environments and helps older people plan how they want to age in our community. Passionate about creating a York County that is inclusive and respectful of all generations, Cathy has presented at national aging conferences and webinars, appeared on regional radio and television shows, and contributed articles to regional publications.  At the invitation of Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Casey, she was one of four witnesses selected to present testimony at the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging in May 2017. An avid fan of competition shows on the Food Network, wine tastings, travel, and theatre, Cathy treasures being with family, and looks back fondly on the time spent with her grandparents, as they each taught her valuable lessons about aging that she carries with her today.

Jason joined the team at the beginning of 2023 as the Grant Programs Manager at YCCF, bringing over three years of grantmaking and strategic thinking experience. Jason is driven to help build equitable, healthy, and cohesive communities, and is excited for the opportunity to help YCCF continue to create a more vibrant York County. His favorite part of managing YCCF’s Grant Programs is the continued exposure to the new ideas and ambitious solutions that the community continues to produce and pursue. Jason is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and an avid Pitt fan. In his spare time, he enjoys watching sports, staying active, and spending time with his family.

Layla Boyce is the Grants & Scholarships Program Manager at YCCF.  Layla is the primary staff person for all scholarship funds, processes all the grants that YCCF awards and provides administrative support for our committees and grantmaking programs. Knowing that YCCF is committed to making York County vibrant for future generations is what motivates Layla. As a mother, she’s proud to know that the work she does as part of the YCCF team will benefit her children and her grandchildren. Layla’s family moved to Stewartstown, PA when she was six years old. She still lives in York County with her husband and two daughters. Outside of work, you can find her at the soccer field cheering on her two daughters from the sidelines or in the kitchen trying out new recipes.

Meredith serves as the Foundation’s Vice President of Finance & Operations. Meredith's primary responsibilities include retaining the confidence of stakeholders by ensuring good stewardship of the funds entrusted to the Foundation; growing endowments for future generations; and sustaining high caliber customer service.  She also leads the Finance Department and is accountable for business strategy, sound financial and investment management, and highly effective operations. Meredith joined YCCF from the County of York where she had worked since 2015. She has both nonprofit and private sector business experience. Most recently, she was tapped to be the CFO for the County to oversee the $660 million budget and served on the County’s implementation team for strategic planning.  Meredith also worked with the County’s investment managers for their pension program. Meredith holds an MBA from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing on her deck and traveling. You can also find her bicycling on one of York County’s rail trails.

With 30 years of service to the Community Foundation, Donna Jones serves as YCCF’s unofficial historian in addition to her official role as Controller. Donna uses her decades of expertise in nonprofit accounting to administer and manage the Foundation’s portfolio of assets. Her attention to detail and sense of accountability to our donors are two of Donna's many strengths. She was introduced to the Foundation while serving as a volunteer board member of a local charity and welcomed the opportunity to serve York County through the Foundation.  During her time with the Foundation, Donna has cultivated a passion and commitment to our mission and demonstrates great respect for our donors, advisors, and the charitable organizations we serve. Donna is an avid Penn State and University of North Carolina fan. She also enjoys vacationing with family in North Carolina, doing hands-on art projects, trivia and puzzle-solving.

Joining the team in February 2021, Kristin Garber is an accountant supporting YCCF’s finance team. Kristin earned a BS in Accounting from Elizabethtown College and an MS in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University, and spends her professional time reconciling monthly investment statements, assisting in the creation of financial statements and reviewing tax returns, among other duties.   As a lifelong resident of York County, she looks forward to the supporting role she will play in creating a vibrant and welcoming community for current and future residents. In her personal time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband, their dog and eight cats, as well as working with local non-profit animal rescues, attending concerts, and traveling. In the spring and summer months, you can find her tending to her butterfly garden and enclosures, where she raises butterflies from eggs in order to release and support the local butterfly population.

Michele McKinney is YCCF’s Finance & Payroll Specialist. Her impeccable attention to detail is an asset when she’s working with investment numbers, accounts payable and payroll. Michele’s background in accounts receivable and collections taught her to be very conscious of time and responsive to requests in a timely fashion, which has greatly benefited our organization. It’s a nice change of pace for Michele to be on the receiving end of gifts donated willingly, instead of calling to collect money.  She says “It’s a wonderful thing to be affiliated with an organization helping to improve lives and our community.” The staff at YCCF can always count on Michele to be up to speed on the latest skills in Human Resources, Compliance, Not-for-Profit Regulatory Updates, Insurances, Financial/Accounting, Excel, and 403(b) plans, and to keep all our practices in-line with the latest regulations and best practices. Michele’s entire family has been active in scouting, both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, combining two of Michele’s favorite things – family and the outdoors. She enjoys spending time outdoors whenever possible, whether it is just sitting on the deck with a coffee on weekend mornings or going camping.

Sarah Thomas, Vice President of Communications and Culture, joined the foundation in 2016. Using her nearly 20 years of communications experience, Sarah sets the marketing strategy for the Community Foundation, and tells the stories of donors, grantees, and YCCF’s impact in the community. Through media relations, donor and grantee communications, advertising, events, the YCCF website and social media channels, and the Foundation’s Annual Report, she creates opportunities for York Countians to learn about the Foundation and join us in reaching our vision for our community. Sarah also leads recruitment efforts for YCCF, and ensures that the foundation uses best practices in employee retention and morale building. Sarah’s work has gained industry accolades, including an international MarComm Gold Award for YCCF’s York Academy video. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lycoming College. She is a member of the Uptown York Rotary Club and finds it to be a great way to keep up on what’s happening in the community. Her passions include cars, boating, and spending time with her husband and Scottish Terrier.

Rabiya joined the YCCF team in 2021 with over 15 years of experience in the field of Journalism, Marketing, and Communications, and is excited about the opportunity to help YCCF create a more vibrant York County. Rabiya previously served as the Investigator for the City of York Human Relations Commission where she adjudicated anti-discrimination complaints and served on educational forums that promoted social justice and equity. Rabiya moved to York County with her son in 2006 and has worked and volunteered for several nonprofit agencies. She has witnessed the generosity of the York community and looks forward to sharing the positive impact made by YCCF’s generous fund holders, donors, and grantees. With her expertise in utilizing social media, Rabiya will play a key role in increasing YCCF’s online presence. Through a combination of marketing and events, she’ll provide opportunities to ensure people from across York County understand how gifts to the Foundation can create a lasting impact for generations to come. A strident supporter of multicultural and interfaith harmony, Rabiya founded the Solidarity Society of South-Central PA - a social justice activist group dedicated to promoting peaceful dialogue and eliminating prejudice and fear of Islam and immigrants. She is also the founder of MEET A MUSLIM AMERICAN, (MAMA) an educational forum held annually at the YWCA's Race Against Racism to offer attendees the opportunity to speak with and meet local Muslims. Rabiya is also a guest lecturer for Penn State York’s OLLIE program and also served for 7 years on the Advisory Board of CAIR - Council on American Islamic Relations, a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group dedicated to protecting civil liberties by promoting justice and mutual understanding. In 2023, Rabiya earned her certification as a Unite to Heal PA Ambassador. With this credential, Rabiya has performed workshops with community members to discuss the harm of racism and the work needed to heal. The long-term goal of Unite to Heal PA is to compile data and present the findings to lawmakers and the Governor of PA to encourage them to declare racism a public health crisis in Pennsylvania. Rabiya also serves on YCCF's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. In her spare time, Rabiya enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling with her husband and son and napping with her lazy fluffy cats!  

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