By TAYLOR CALDWELL
Ward Media Staff Reporter
LEAVENWORTH—Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (ICCA) Executive Director Phil Lacey will transition into a new role as Executive Director of the Icicle Fund.
“The work that Icicle Fund does in this community is incredibly valuable and far-reaching, impacting dozens and dozens of nonprofits working in the arts, environment, and history sectors. So, in many ways, this transition lets me build on everything I was doing at ICCA – sharing the value of this beautiful place where we live, supporting other nonprofits, and building community – and continue this work on a much larger scale,” said Lacey in an email to Ward Media.
The Icicle Fund was founded by Harriet Bullitt in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) supporting organization for nonprofits focused on advancing the arts, protecting the environment, and promoting the natural and cultural history of North Central Washington. Its six lead organizations, ICCA, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, Methow Arts Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, and the Wenatchee River Institute, lead the work of the fund.
Lacey’s short-term goals for the Icicle Fund involve improving representation of the community by inviting a more diverse group of people at the committee and board level, as well as developing Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort as a destination for the community that lives here, in addition to its out of town visitors.
“I know Phil to be forward-thinking and exceptionally creative, with an eye for the big picture,” said Noelle O’Reilly, Icicle Fund Board Member and granddaughter to Bullitt, in a press release. “I am so pleased he’ll be bringing his considerable talents to the Icicle Fund, as we work together to expand on Harriet’s vision.”
Lacey joined ICCA in 2021. Under his leadership, ICCA completed its endowment fund campaign, expanded programming, emerged from the pandemic, and navigated financial difficulties. Lacey also partnered with the school district to maintain visual arts in the K-8 grade. ICCA was recognized by the Washington Association of School Administrators as the recipient of the Community Leadership Award.
“My time at ICCA has been incredible preparation for this role at Icicle Fund. While the context will be different, I have already had the joy of working alongside most of our community partners over the last few years, so I am able to build on those relationships as we all move forward,” said Lacey.
Lacey will begin his position at the Icicle Fund in early November. He will transition into the role of ICCA’s Interim Executive Director on a part-time basis until a successor is appointed. ICCA’s Board of Directors will handle the selection process for the organization’s next executive director.
Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media
