FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 23, 2025
CONTACT: J.J. Lewis, CEO | (517) 618-1874
Pinckney, MI – North Star Reach, the ninth U.S. residential camp in the SeriousFun Children’s Network founded by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, is proud to announce that Board Fellow Carly Colen has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Board Fellow Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to North Star Reach and her significant positive impact throughout her time through the University of Michigan Nonprofit Board Fellowship Program.
The Outstanding Board Fellow Award is given to fellows who have made substantial contributions to their organization and demonstrated outstanding engagement and leadership throughout their tenure. Colen has exemplified this distinction through her active participation in board meetings, her dedication to North Star Reach’s mission, and the meaningful improvements she has championed during her fellowship.
“It has been such an incredible experience serving on the Board of North Star Reach. The organization’s dedication to providing a camp experience for kids with serious health challenges is so important, and I am honored to have played a small part in their work,” said Colen. “North Star Reach works tirelessly to give kids a worry-free summer camp experience, and it was great to see the behind-the-scenes of how it all comes together as a Board Fellow.”
Since joining North Star Reach, Colen has played a pivotal role in enhancing the orientation and onboarding process for new board members. Her project, which is set to launch soon, will ensure that incoming board members receive a robust and comprehensive introduction to the organization, enabling them to engage effectively from day one.
Colen’s commitment goes beyond her project work. She has maintained one of the best attendance records of any board member this year, regularly attending both in-person and virtual meetings. Her thoughtful contributions to discussions, including providing valuable feedback on the evaluation process for North Star Reach’s CEO, have helped strengthen the board’s governance practices. Colen has also shown great initiative by offering insights and feedback through Asana, a new tool the board has implemented this year.
“Carly has been an outstanding fellow for North Star Reach,” shared J.J. Lewis, CEO of North Star Reach. “Her dedication, engagement, and impactful contributions make her truly deserving of the Outstanding Board Fellow Award. We are incredibly grateful for her work and look forward to her continued impact at North Star Reach, thanks to her research and recommendations on ways to improve our board orientation and onboarding processes.”
Colen, a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, brought with her a wealth of experience in both policy and camp leadership. Prior to joining North Star Reach, she worked with the Foundation for Jewish Camp and Beber Camp, bringing invaluable camp experience to her board role.
