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1994.10.17 :  Region III Director Named

Contact:  Press Office  (202) 690-6343
          Regional Office    (215) 596-6492
Monday, Oct. 17, 1994

             LYNN YEAKEL NAMED HHS REGION III DIRECTOR 


     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala has announced the appointment of
Lynn Hardy Yeakel of Rosemont, Pa., as regional director for Region
III of the Department of Health and Human Services.

     As regional director, Yeakel, 53, will be Secretary Shalala's
representative in coordinating the administration and implementation
of the secretary's policies throughout the region of five states and
the District of Columbia at the state, county and municipal levels. 
She will serve as a liaison with the public, interest groups,
governors, mayors and other local officials with whom HHS deals. 

     Region III, with headquarters in Philadelphia, includes the
states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C.

     Yeakel gained national attention in 1992 when in her first bid
for elective office, she came in just 2 percentage points behind the
incumbent U.S. senator she challenged in Pennsylvania.

     Between 1980-1992, Yeakel served as president and CEO of
Philadelphia-based Womens Way, a non-profit women's funding
federation that provides innovative services for Delaware Valley
women and families.  She played a critical role in developing the
organization into the largest women's funding federation in the 
country.  She also spearheaded formation of Womens Way PA and a
coalition of l7 women's funds, Womens Way USA, that operates in 14
states.

     Yeakel was born in Portsmouth, Va., and graduated cum laude
with a bachelor's degree in French from Randolph-Macon Woman's
College, Lynchburg, Va., in 1963.  She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa
while at Randolph-Macon.  During 1961-1962, she studied at the
University of Paris, France.

     She worked in public relations for Smith Kline and French
Laboratories in Philadelphia, 1965-1967; and was in public relations
for N.W. Ayer and Son, Inc., 1963-1965.  

     Committed to helping improve the lives of others, Yeakel has
long been active in private and public community work.  She was
incorporator and board co-chair of the Citizens' Coalition for
Energy Efficiency, 1980-1984; co-convener and co-chair, 21st Century
League, 1989-1992; and co-chair, Citizens Assembly, a project of the
Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, 1990-
1991.

     Two Philadelphia mayors appointed her to the City Board of
Health, 1982-
1991.  A leader in the family planning movement, she
served as board president, Family Planning Council of Southeastern
Pennsylvania, 1983-1984; and was president of the board of directors
of CHOICE, 1975-1977.

     Yeakel served from 1987 to 1994 as co-chair of the board,
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, and has worked 
with the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.  She also was a
member of the board of the Private Industry Council of Philadelphia.

     Honors and awards to Yeakel include:  Lucretia Mott Award,
1993; Alliance for Choice in Giving Innovative Leadership Award,
1990; Prudential Leadership Award, 1990; Distinguished Daughter of
Pennsylvania, 1989; Medical College of Pennsylvania/Gimbel Award,
1986; and Outstanding Young Women in America, 1977.
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