Congratulations to Christopher Celeste, Our New Board Chair

A new phase of our Board leadership began on June 30. Alec Walsh, who has served as Chair since 2023, passed the baton to Christopher Celeste. 

Mr. Walsh initially served as a member of the Community Foundation’s Investment Management Committee. He joined the Board after seeing the organization’s impact during the COVID crisis. He recently reflected, “It has been a great privilege to have served as Chair of the Community Foundation these past three years. Grants and scholarships supporting the Island now exceed $1 million annually, and have grown 38% since 2023, thanks to the generous support of our donors, and the good work of our staff.”

The staff and Board members are all glad that Mr. Walsh will continue as a member of the Board and the Investment Committee. 

Mr. Celeste is an Edgartown resident and entrepreneur known as the owner of Rosewater and the beautifully-restored “Yellow House” on Edgartown’s Main Street. He joined the Board in 2024 and has served as Vice Chair for the past year. In his new role, he is particularly interested in exploring impact opportunities for the Community Foundation. He recently commented, “I believe deeply in the Foundation’s mission – Here For Good – which is anchored by its endowment and brought to life via scholarships, grants, emergency assistance, collaborative problem-solving, and increasingly, as a philanthropic leader across the island.”