Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors
Shari Cunningham
Shari Cunningham has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) for 30 years and served as President in 2007 to 2008. From 2008 to 2011 she chaired the club’s major fundraising event “Art in the Park”, leading a significant re-vitalization of this iconic start to summer which has been a local tradition for 40 years. Shari was the Chairperson of the Rotary Club of Windsor Foundation Fund for 5 years and has been a member of the Foundation Fund for 18 years. Shari has also been involved in various committees of her Club. She is honoured to have been a member of the Canadian Rotary Collaboration for International Development since 2008 and became a Director in 2011 to 2015 as well as the Chair of the Public Engagement Committee. Shari was appointed Assistant Governor in 2011.
Shari is excited to have supported the work of Rotary International and its Polio Eradication efforts first-hand by joining other Rotarians and like-minded individuals in “Polio Vision 2010” – a trip to India in February 2010 where she had the opportunity to participate in a polio NID and to observe and assist with other Rotary and Rotary Foundation projects, including an eyeglass clinic.
Shari, who has her BA in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work, has had a fulfilling career with extensive experience in the design and management of community-based services for children and adults. As area manager for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services of the Windsor Area Office, she managed a multi-disciplinary team of 168 management, professional, and support staff, along with an annual budget in excess of $145 million. Her excellent leadership, negotiation and project management skills provided her the ability to translate government policy initiatives into specific implementation plans by consulting effectively with community partners.
Since her retirement in 2000, Shari has dedicated her time and expertise to a number of organizations in addition to Rotary. She has served on the Board of Directors of Riverside United Church, chaired the Parent Council at the primary school attended by her children and was a long-standing member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army. Shari is also a member of the Ministry of the Attorney General, Windsor Advisory Committee for Family Law Mediation & Justice Services since 2011.
After being appointed to the Board of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital as a Board member in 2005 she has carried significant portfolios. She joined the Planning and Priorities Committee in 2005 and was Chairperson from 2009 to 2011. Shari was a member of the HDGH Advisory Board to the Supervisor from 2011 to 2012 and subsequently became the Vice Chair of the Board of the hospital and Chairperson of the Quality Committee until the realignment of hospital services in 2013. Shari became the Vice Chair of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in October 2013 and was the Chair of the Board from 2014 to 2017. She has been an active Board member through a period of major transformation.
Shari is married to Dave Langstone. Dave is a retired engineer who worked for Chrysler USA in the development of new vehicles for 39 years. Dave has an extensive interest in automotive history. Together they have two children, Edward and Rebecca. All the Cunningham/Langstone family are Paul Harris Fellows.