Paul DeBassio Reflects on His Fun Year as United Way NEXT's Board Chair
Tempus Fugit. The Latin phrase published by Virgil in 29 BC is considered to be the basis of the phrase we all know "time flies when you're having fun.” Well, 2025, my year as Board Chair has certainly flown by. While there was much work and many obstacles to overcome, it has been "fun" and a joy, as well as an honor to serve our members during the 35th Anniversary celebration of United Way NEXT.
The important thing about anniversaries is to celebrate the past while envisioning an even brighter future. United Way NEXT, originally created as the United Way Retiree Association, was founded and sustained by some of the titans of the United Way movement. We are fortunate to have Dick Aft, a founder of UWRA, serve as Emeritus Board Member so we never lose sight of the history of the organization. However, like all UW NEXT Board members, Dick has his eye on the future.
It was this constant focus of the Board on the future, "What's NEXT?" that had me want to bring together these great United Way minds to answer that question. We started with a virtual meeting, facilitated by Deborah Bayle, who had recently concluded her Board service, in October 2024 and followed up with an in-person 3-day retreat hosted at UWW in April 2025 and masterfully facilitated by Patrick Jinks. This was not a strategic planning session; this was a visioning exercise grounded in actions to be executed over the next 18 months.
Carole Peters & Paul DeBassio at UW NEXT’s 35th Anniversary Reception (April 2025).
Actions speak louder than words and the idea to celebrate our 35th Anniversary in tribute of those who shaped our United Way careers went into action. Jeffrey Wilcox challenged the Board to make additional tribute gifts in honor of those who meant the most to us, as he and his wife Maria Chavez Wilcox already had. In addition to my tribute to Mike Durkin, I committed to sponsoring 20 Leadership Circle memberships (one for each year of my UW service) to colleagues of mine who enriched my United Way journey in so many different ways. The response to our "tribute campaign,” seeing the names of so many past United Way leaders has been heartwarming and the highlight of my time as Board Chair.
2025 also saw the development of our professional staff, with the hires of Ivy Cirillo as Marketing, Communications & Events Manager and Kerstin Rust as Membership & Engagement Coordinator. Along with CEO Carole Peters, this small but mighty team delivers greater and greater engagement opportunities and experiences for you, our valued members. Whether you are a retiree, an alumnus, a member of a local United Way or a local United Way, our commitment has been to elevate your feeling of belonging. For me, United Way NEXT is a community. As my son would say, “you are my people.” We’re like-minded individuals who spent some, if not all, of our careers at United Way, wanting the opportunity to stay connected, share our experiences, and stay committed to seeing our communities thrive.
My focus as Board Chair was to see this community, United Way NEXT, thrive. With all the work of staff, our amazing Board of Directors, Committee and Work Group volunteers, session leaders and speakers, we are better positioned to deliver the experiences you value. With Ann Fox, Incoming Chair, I know that 2026 will be even better! I'm fortunate as Immediate Past Chair to continue to serve on the Executive Committee and will have more time to join the mentorship program as a mentor and participate in the recently launched Consultant Collaborative. We have a solid foundation because of those who came before us and a bright future because of the vision and commitment to action of our Board and staff. What has been one of the most rewarding years of my experience with United Way has just flown by.
About the Author
Paul DeBassio, 2025 Board Chair
Paul DeBassio is a retired United Way network executive with 20 years of United Way leadership experience. Paul has served United Way at the local, national, and global levels. After serving 12 years at United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley as Chief Development Officer, Paul served 5 years at United Way Worldwide first as VP, US Network Engagement & Performance and then as EVP, Chief Investor Relations Officer. He wrapped up his United Way career serving his local United Way, Granite United Way as Chief Development Officer from June 2018 – August 2020.
Paul’s professional United Way focus has always been on driving performance through building strong relationships with key stakeholders, implementing change management, advocating for community impact, and creating collaborative environments that empower staff and volunteers to actively engage in strategic planning and implementation. He has continued his passion for community change, and the need for United Way to change in today’s environment, with contract assignments supporting local United Ways in strategic planning, implementation, and execution, as well as Executive Coaching and leadership training.
Before joining United Way, Paul spent 13 years in for-profit sales and sales management. Most notably, he was New England/New York Region Manager for Chattem Consumer Products from 1989 – 2000. While at Chattem Paul's sales volume increased from $3,000,000 to $18,700,000 and was nationally recognized multiple times as Regional Manager of the Year, National Salesperson of the Year, and #1 sales vs. quota.
Paul is a 1987 graduate of The Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He met his wife Sue while at Boston College and they have been married for 36 years. An avid hiker, skier, and kayaker Paul and Sue now live on Newfound Lake, just 2.3 miles from their son Joey and his wife Bri.
Outside of continued contract work, Paul serves as a 2025 Board Chair of United Way NEXT; Board Member of Granite United Way, President of Newfound Sands Condo Association, President of Pasquaney Snowshoe Club, VITA tax preparer at Whole Village, Appalachian Mountain Club trail maintenance volunteer and a member of Plymouth State University’s Business Advisory Board.