Pictured: David Green, Board Chair, Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Community Foundation has a new Chair. David Green, who succeeds Pauline Wamsler, officially began his one-year term on July 1st and has served on the Gulf Coast Board since 2018.  Prior to retiring to the Gulf Coast region, Green spent his 45-year career in marketing and branding with major international consumer brands. For 30 years, he worked for McDonald’s Corporation, most recently as its senior global marketing officer. Green introduced many iconic marketing campaigns at McDonald’s, working with some of the best agencies and minds in the business. He helped develop Ronald McDonald House as a national, then international charity, and made Happy Meals a cultural phenomenon. This week, Green took some time to talk with us about his new role and his desire to give back post retirement.

You retired from the corporate world many years ago. Why not just sit back and enjoy life in paradise? 

I loved my time in the corporate world but when I retired it was clear I wanted to continue to be active and challenged. Working in the non-profit world has been the most rewarding and joyful experience of my career.

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing in your new role?

I am so proud of the donors, staff and leadership of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The board is a terrific group of diverse and smart people. My job as Board Chair is to do everything possible to keep the success and momentum of the organization going, especially in the areas of mental health resources, workforce housing and the environment. I believe that philanthropy is a team sport where generous and passionate people work with excellent non profits, governmental agencies and collaborators/conveners like Gulf Coast to make transformational projects happen.

Tell us about your philanthropic spirit. What has inspires this desire to give back so much?

There is no higher calling than trying to make a difference in your community, making life better for as many as possible. No matter if you volunteer or donate $50 or $50,000, you get a great feeling of being a part of the solutions rather than the problems.

Do you have a favorite mantra?

When I retired an old friend sent me a note and ended it with this: Never let your memories be greater than your dreams! I've tried to follow that ever since.

In addition to the Gulf Coast Board, you also serve as a board member of the Sarasota Orchestra and a trustee of the Hermitage Artist Retreat. When do you find time for yourself and what do you enjoy doing in that time?

I love flying my airplane, hiking, canoeing and spending time with my wife and kids who are not really kids anymore. But I find that the joy of seeing such great institutions as Gulf Coast, the Orchestra and the Hermitage flourish adds greatly to my life satisfaction.

Pictured: David Green, Board Chair, Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

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