Special Olympics Rhode Island Announces New President and CEO
The Board of Directors of Special Olympics Rhode Island is pleased to announce that Edwin R. Pacheco has been appointed President and CEO. Ed will succeed Dennis DeJesus who is retiring at the end of June 2022.
“After several weeks of conducting a national search to identify Special Olympics Rhode Island’s next President & CEO, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Edwin R. Pacheco. Ed brings a vast amount of experience in nonprofit and higher education leadership as well as a passion to bring joy to others. His enthusiasm for our athletes and families is needed now more than ever as we continue to emerge from the pandemic and increase support for our organization,” said Staci Kolb, Chairperson for Special Olympics Rhode Island Board of Directors. “We are very excited to have him lead the organization.”
Pacheco is a native Rhode Islander and a URI graduate. He has spent his career working with nonprofits and higher education. His career began at Meeting Street and more recently he led efforts to strengthen investments in Rhode Island College. Ed spent much of his tenure at RIC serving as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island College Foundation where he led college-wide fundraising efforts and oversaw philanthropic investments.
He worked with the college community to increase overall fundraising over 6 years, including increasing the Foundation’s assets from $28 million to $42 million. During his final year with Rhode Island College, Ed stewarded the college’s single largest gift in RIC history establishing the college’s first ever endowed professorship. Ed is a proven community leader having served as Rhode Island State Representative for Burrillville-Glocester from 2005-2011 and is a past member of the Burrillville School Committee.
He officially began his tenure as President and CEO of Special Olympics Rhode Island on May 16, 2022.
In his role as President and CEO of Special Olympics Rhode Island, Pacheco will lead one of the state’s most dynamic organizations, providing over 1,400 year-round sports training and athletic competition opportunities to more than 4,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Rhode Island celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018. Ed will serve as the organization’s fifth President and CEO.
“I’m excited to carry on the amazing work that Dennis DeJesus and Special Olympics are doing here in Rhode Island,” said Pacheco. “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for a mission-driven organization that has done so much good for the community.
I’m humbled to be selected as the next leader of Special Olympics Rhode Island to serve and support individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
I look forward to working with our athletes, board, staff, donors, coaches, community partners, and volunteers to advance the mission and vision of Special Olympics Rhode Island for years to come.”