Lost & Found names new executive director

Lost & Found Grief Center has hired its third executive director and its second in less than a year.

Emily Givens, Drury University’s director of student life, is stepping into the role in early May. She’ll start working with the nonprofit’s board and staff in the interim and continue working at Drury through April, according to a news release.

Givens succeeds Kristy Endacott, who became executive director in May 2016 and resigned in August to “pursue other opportunities,” said Lost & Found co-founder Karen Scott. Endacott does not have a LinkedIn page, and Scott was unsure where she’s currently working.

Endacott last year took over for Scott, who moved into the newly created role of director of program development. Scott became executive director in 2007 when she succeeded Robin Squires, the organization’s first person in that role.

“The mission and beliefs of this organization are so powerful and make such a positive difference to the families in our community who utilize its services,” Givens said in the release. “My vision is to increase community awareness and support so even more individuals can be comforted during their time of need.”

Scott said Givens was chosen after the position was advertised on several websites and board members performed outreach.

Lost & Found, which provides grief support services, ranked 23rd on Springfield Business Journal’s 2017 list of the area’s largest nonprofits. The organization has an operating budget this year of $426,512, according to SBJ list research.

The organization moved to 1555 S. Glenstone Ave. in October 2015 after a $2.3 million capital campaign.

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