A New Leader for the R. J. Leonard Foundation

Founder, Jo Leonard (left) and new Executive Director, Caitlin Deppeler

The R. J. Leonard Foundation has elected a new Executive Director Caitlin Deppeler, effective April 2018. She will take the helm from Jo Leonard, Founder, and former ED, who will continue to serve the organization as Chief Visionary and Youth Advocate.  “After 7 years of piloting the RJLF, it is time for me to hand over the controls to a new leader, and after an extensive search for a replacement, I am 100% confident that Caitlin is the ideal person to usher in new growth and development for this unique and accomplished organization. Her personal passion and academic and professional background make her a perfect match for this position. I could not be happier to see her lead the RJLF.”
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Caitlin has an MSW from Temple University’s Clinical program, with a concentration in children and families. She has spent most of her career working with young people involved in the child welfare system and counseling at-risk youth and their families.  Caitlin’s most recently supervised Valley Youth House, an emergency shelter for runaway and/or homeless youth.  Prior to Caitlin’s social work career, she was an entrepreneur, running Lucca Salon in Doylestown, PA where she offered free services to young people in the juvenile justice system.  She shares that it was this experience that propelled her to pursue a social work degree. 
 
Senior Director of the RJLF, Kathleen Kasper, notes that “while Caitlin has been an outstanding Board Chair, I am excited to have her step into this new role.”  As an MSW with therapy experience working directly with foster care youth, Caitlin is very qualified to bring insights into the issues that face the RJLF Fellows.  She is well known in BucksMont as a passionate leader focused on building and developing important programs for this population and has already brought new ideas for the foundation’s growth. 
 
Caitlin will direct a dedicated team at the R. J. Leonard Foundation whose work with aging out foster care youth has transformed the lives of bright young adults.  “I am excited and honored to take over the leadership of the RJLF and implement creative strategies to serve more youth and manage an incredible organization.”

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