New Darr Family Foundation director succeeds longtime leader

The Darr Family Foundation named a new executive director to succeed its first and only leader.

Heather Zoromski comes to the foundation started by Springfield businessman Bill Darr after five years working as grant administrator for the Skaggs Foundation. She succeeds Tom Slaight, who retired Oct. 31 after holding the lead position since the foundation’s inception in 2002, Zoromski said.

“I had a great opportunity to work alongside him for about three weeks,” said Zoromski, who started Oct. 10. “Certainly it’s big shoes to fill. We have such a tremendous opportunity. This is what all of my experience is in.”

As executive director, Zoromski leads a foundation that issues roughly $200,000 in grants annually to organizations in the education, human services and health fields. The foundation’s spring grant cycle included awards for Convoy of Hope, Diaper Bank of the Ozarks and Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

This fiscal year, Zoromski projects the foundation will issue $268,000 in grants. Since its inception, grant awards have totaled $2.2 million. The next deadline for grants is March 15 for the organization’s upcoming spring cycle.

While at the Skaggs Foundation, Zoromski oversaw the creation of a $25 million endowment that came through the Branson hospital’s acquisition by CoxHealth. She also personally brought in around $3 million as a grant writer for the organization.

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