FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anita Blomme, 919-673-9591

The John Rex Endowment Announces Kate Shirah as Program Director

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 25, 2008) - The John Rex Endowment is pleased to announce Kate Shirah, MPH, has joined their team as program director.

Shirah has a wide range of experience in public health, including direct program development and management, intervention strategy, teaching and research. As program director, Shirah will assist in proposal development while concentrating the John Rex Endowment's resources on the best strategies for making change.

"Kate's education and experience in public health will influence the Endowment's new emphasis on a clear theory of change and best practices to make that change," said Kevin Cain, president and CEO of the John Rex Endowment.

Prior to joining the John Rex Endowment, Shirah worked as an instructor and field training coordinator in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) School of Public Health. She also served as a consultant for the Center of Excellence for Training & Research Translation within the UNC-CH Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention.

Kate earned both her master's in public health in health behavior and health education and bachelor's degree in health policy and administration from the UNC-CH School of Public Health.

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The John Rex Endowment invests in the development and support of activities, programs and organizations that improve the health of underserved people in Wake and surrounding counties. Currently, the Endowment supports visible and measurable improvements in the health of children and youth by improving access to health services, by promoting healthy behaviors and by providing opportunities for growth and development. To learn more please visit www.rexendowment.org.