Grants & Communications Manager Abby Rolland, former Executive Director Mariel Frank, and current Executive Director Teresa Araco Rodgers
By Abby Rolland
While The Presser Foundation was created by a man, Theodore Presser, in the early 20th century, women have played a critical role in guiding the Foundation throughout its history.
One of those women was Mariel Frank, Executive Director of the Foundation from 1985 to 2014. Beginning her long service to the Foundation during a time when many women still worked inside the home, Frank worked closely with the President and Board of Trustees to fulfill the Foundation’s mission.
She oversaw a great deal of change while also maintaining strong traditions. Over time, Frank’s role grew from part-time to full-time, she began working with a computer (which she learned on the job), and the Foundation sold the Presser Publishing Company, which had been set up initially under the umbrella of the Foundation. Throughout, Frank maintained the work of the Foundation to give to music organizations while also carefully managing relationships with the strong-willed Trustees of the Board.
Current staff met with her to learn more. Below, we share some of her reflections about her time at The Presser Foundation.
Career Beginnings and Starting at The Presser Foundation
Before beginning her work at the Foundation, Frank worked at a law firm and then at a financial planning company. At the latter job, she met Henderson “Woozy” Supplee, III. When Supplee was elected President of The Presser Foundation in 1985 and the previous assistant to the President fell ill, he had the perfect person in mind to fill the role. He asked Frank if she would be interested in the position, although she had never heard of the Foundation until that moment. She was, and after multiple interviews with various Trustees, the position was offered to her.
Grantmaking
Then and now, The Presser Foundation was one of the few foundations to give money for music. At that time, the Scholar Awards program received the most support, Advancement of Music was a much smaller program, and there were many more Assistance to Music recipients. Frank shared that nearly 30 Assistance recipients lived at Cathedral Village at one time; in the past several years, the final Assistance recipient living there passed away. All applications and reporting to the Foundation was paper-based and often hand delivered by grantees to the office in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Frank was meticulous with tracking reporting and disseminating copies to all Committee Members to support decision-making.
Board & Committee Meetings
Frank spent a great deal of time prepping for each Board and Committee meeting. She handles all aspects of the meeting including driving several of the Trustees into Center City Philadelphia where all Board meetings took place.
Traditions
At almost 100 years ago, tradition has been woven into many of The Presser Foundation’s meetings and documents (although many things have changed as well!). Three traditions stood out in Frank’s mind.
- An official stamp of the seal of the Foundation was often used on formal documents. The current staff still have the stamp and transformed the seal into a digital format.
- Frank was instructed to order chicken for most Board meetings, since it was less expensive, and she was always given a glass of white wine as the Executive Director.
- At each December meeting, red and green agendas were distributed, and Trustees sung various holiday songs together.
Favorite Memories
Twenty-nine years is a long time to serve at one organization. What made it worthwhile for Frank was the kindness of the entire Board. Supplee in particular listened to her points of view and supported her in her work. “I couldn’t say a mean thing about him,” she explained.
One particular moment of pride for Frank was a trip to the White House to receive a distinguished 2008 National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). When the Foundation was nominated by a dean from one of the Scholar Award recipients, Frank and Board President Robert Capanna traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the award. Frank remembers “President Bush landing in a helicopter in time for the award ceremony.” The recipients, in addition to the Foundation, included Marvel creator Stan Lee and actress Olivia de Havilland. They were treated to a buffet lunch and reception, an award ceremony, and a book about the history of the NEA.
“We had a wonderful time,” Frank shared.
Lasting Impressions
Frank loved her job at the Foundation, and thoroughly enjoyed working with the many people involved with the Foundation’s work. “I loved the people there the most.” A great deal of change has happened at the Foundation since she retired in 2014; however, she stands as an important individual in not only her efforts with the Foundation’s mission and grantmaking, but as a female leader of an organization critical to supporting music in Greater Philadelphia.
Current Executive Director, Teresa Araco Rodgers, had the opportunity to work alongside Frank for two years. Rodgers shared that Frank was always gracious with her time and supportive of the work. It was Frank who encouraged Rodgers to be considered for the role of Executive Director. Frank recognized that the philanthropic landscape was changing and as the many Trustees with whom she worked transitioned away from the Board, she embraced the transformation that was taking place. Rodgers continues to value the time spent with Frank and the mentor and friend she has been.
While Frank downplays her role at the Foundation, her ability to maintain strong relationships with Board members and various recipients while continuing the Foundation’s work in thoughtful ways informs and inspires current staff. As many say, philanthropy is all about relationships, and Mariel Frank embodied this idea with her warm, thoughtful, and diligent leadership of The Presser Foundation for nearly 30 years.
