Press Releases

The board of directors for Family & Children’s Place (FCP) has named Elea Mihou Fox the organization’s new president and CEO, effective January 6, 2025. FCP provides resources, support, and solutions to help families prevent and stop child abuse and neglect, heal those impacted, and empower parents and the community to create safe, nurturing environments for children.

“After a thorough search and interview process, we found Elea uniquely qualified to lead Family & Children’s Place into its next chapter,” said Shana Riggs, chair of FCP’s board of directors. “We are impressed with her commitment to and expertise in building community and relationships, both internally and among the many people who care about this organization and its success in serving local families.”

Fox joins the nonprofit from UofL Health (ULH), where she held simultaneous roles as ULH’s first-ever vice president of philanthropy, associate vice president for ULH development through the University of Louisville (UofL)’s philanthropy and alumni engagement office, and executive director of the recently formed ULH Foundation. She was promoted to those roles from her position as executive director of development for ULH’s Brown Cancer Center.

Fox’s fundraising experience extends to the education sector where she held leadership roles on development teams for The de Paul School, UofL’s College of Arts and Sciences, and Buffalo (NY) State University’s School of Natural and Social Sciences. She also previously served as
executive director of the Western New York Peace Center in Buffalo.

“As a mother, citizen, and nonprofit leader, I am passionate about the needs of children and families and our collective responsibility to promote health, well-being, and support for the most vulnerable people among us,” said Fox. “This is a challenging time for staff in social services as the demand is growing while resources are becoming scarcer and more competitive. I’m committed to working through these challenges and helping Family & Children’s Place amplify their ability to improve lives in our community.”

A Cincinnati native, Fox relocated to Louisville from Buffalo in 2010. She is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University, earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University at Buffalo, and is working toward a Ph.D. in public health at UofL. She assumes the FCP leadership role upon the retirement of longtime president and CEO Pam Darnall, who served the nonprofit for 30 years. Under Darnall’s leadership, FCP implemented a Head Start program and acquired additional resources to expand its Child Advocacy Center and school-based and in-home services.

“As we look ahead, we know Elea has the energy, curiosity, and problem-solving skills to address challenges facing the nonprofit sector and the particular population we serve,” said Riggs. “We look forward to supporting her as she builds a culture that empowers FCP staff members and
fosters hope among the families who turn to them for guidance and healing.”