Kosair Charities announced today that Barry Dunn has been chosen as the organization’s next president and CEO. Dunn will lead Kosair Charities into its second century of enhancing the health and well-being of children in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
“We are excited and eager to have Barry join us at such a pivotal time for our organization,” said Ken Reiss, chairman of the Board of Directors. “Kosair Charities has a proud, long, and storied history. Barry is the right person to take us into our 100th year and build on our legacy.”
Dunn, an attorney, served Kosair Charities in several capacities prior to being named President and CEO. From 2016 to 2019, he served on the Board of Directors, where he chaired the Mission Advancement & Long-Range Planning Committee and served as vice chair of the Grants Committee.
“It’s an honor and privilege to help Kosair Charities create a world in which children in need live life to the fullest,” Dunn said. “I look forward to working with the board, advisory council, and the great people of Kentucky and Southern Indiana to do right by kids each and every day.”
Dunn comes to Kosair Charities after serving as Kentucky’s Deputy Attorney General, where he oversaw a nearly 200-member team and was responsible for the strategic initiatives of the office. This included supporting the Attorney General’s work to combat child abuse and prosecute child predators.
Dunn’s hiring comes as the organization enters its 100th year of serving families and children. In 2020, Kosair Charities aided nearly 283,000 children through more than $16 million in grants and charitable assistance, including the Face It Movement to end child abuse. Kosair Charities also provided funding for healthcare, research, education, social services, and child advocacy.
Dunn previously founded his own law firm, served in various leadership positions in state government, and was an attorney at Stoll Keenon Ogden in Louisville. Prior to graduating from law school, Dunn was a middle school teacher in his native Adair County.
Active in community service, Dunn coached numerous youth basketball and baseball teams, served as a volunteer firefighter, and chaired the Young Lawyers Section of the Louisville Bar Association. He is a member of Kosair Shriners and Louisville Masonic Lodge #400.
Dunn earned a law degree from the University of Louisville, where he was named its outstanding graduate. He also holds a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s degree from Lindsey Wilson College.
Dunn and his wife, Leslie, have three children.
