Special to the
Opelika Observer
The Community Foundation of East Alabama, Inc. is proud to announce that Todd Rauch has accepted the new position of vice president of the organization. Rauch is a retired U.S. Army Wounded Warrior and is fully committed to serving others to make this world a better place. He has demonstrated his commitment to the community by serving in organizations such as:
• Opelika Kiwanis Club
• Museum of East Alabama
• 20-Under-40 Advisory Board
• Lee County and Smiths Station Republican Clubs
• Lee Russell MPO Citizen Advisory Committee and
• an ambassador for the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
People may know him as the candidate that ran for District 38 which serves Lee and Russell Counties. He knocked on 7,400 doors in six months, and the run-off was the closest election in the state during the 2018 elections.
Rauch served in various positions during his military career: -combat military police officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom (received the Purple Heart 2003)
- a military police officer in Geissen, Germany (awarded “Soldier of the Year” for the 18th Military Police Brigade) and
- as an intelligence specialist at the Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal.
Apart from the Army, he has served as an Admissions Advisor, TES for Auburn University.
He has a bachelor of arts in psychology from Auburn University. Rauch and his wife Ali are residents of Opelika and have enjoyed living in the area for 12 years.
“I am excited to have Todd on board and in this position. I expect to see greater visibility of the Foundation and a continued but faster growth in its assets going forward. Only through an increase in assets can the Foundation really make a difference in the five counties it serves. Todd has all the capabilities and skills that the Foundation needs to make this happen,” said CFEA President Barbara Patton.
As the vice president, Rauch will work with the president and the board to develop endowed funds and do fundraising towards this purpose, enhance public relations, communications and marketing. He will also work alongside the president to provide professional interaction with the board and the volunteers to accomplish the strategic priorities and objectives of the Foundation.
“I am grateful to Dr. Fred Cam for his leadership on the selection committee, the committee members and the board for the great work in selecting Todd for this position. With Todd’s capabilities and focus, the Foundation will be able to expand its work, not only in Lee County, but also into Macon, Russell, Tallapoosa and Chambers, the other counties the organization serves,” said Board Chair Nathan Kastner.
For more information, call 334-744-1020 or visit www.cfeastalabama.org. The organization is headquartered at the Southside Center for the Arts, which is located at 1103 Glenn St. in Opelika.