Dear Miriam Community,

After 15 years leading the Miriam Foundation, Andy Thorp will be stepping down as Executive Director at the end of December. Andy looks forward to new opportunities and continuing to make a difference in the St. Louis community.

Andy said, “I am proud of the impact we have made serving Miriam students and their families. It has been a labor of love. Most of all, I will dearly miss the volunteers, staff and families I have met and had the honor to work with in my time with Miriam.”

We are grateful for Andy’s leadership and the many accomplishments achieved during his tenure, including: 

  • Establishing the Miriam Learning Center, which now serves over 1,000 students annually in the St. Louis community. 
  • Completing the $10 million “Learning to Succeed” Campaign to build the Miriam Middle School addition and launch Miriam Academy.
  • Establishing Miriam Academy and finding and renovating its permanent home.
  • Increasing financial support for Miriam families through an over tenfold increase in revenues from the Miriam Switching Post resale shop.
  • Raising $5 million of the $8 million goal of the ongoing “Building on Success” Campaign to support the purchase and renovation of the new Miriam Academy.
Bill Florent has agreed to serve as Interim Executive Director starting January 1, 2021. Along with having a long and successful business career, Bill has served on many nonprofit Boards, including 12 years on Miriam’s Board of Directors, and was President of the Miriam Board. His daughter, Casey, is a graduate of Miriam School. Bill’s compassionate and thoughtful leadership is well known throughout the Miriam community which makes him a great choice for this time of transition.

Andy Thorp said, “Miriam is in excellent hands. I cannot imagine a better person to help Miriam navigate this change and continue the work of the organization.”

I hope you will join me in my heartfelt thanks for all that Andy has given to Miriam over his long tenure.  

Sincerely,

Trish Winchell
President of the Miriam Foundation Board of Directors