HELPING THE CAUSE: Non-profit veteran, Deborah Kersting, has been named the new executive director of the Gateway Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Kersting is taking the position after spending eight years as executive director of the Missouri March of Dimes.

At The Leukemia & Lymphoma society, her duties will include advancing the group's mission -- which is to find cures for the diseases and to improve the quality of life for patients and families -- and to be in charge of corporate development and fundraising goals.

There are 60 society chapters nationwide. The local chapter serves eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and Arkansas.

As head of the state March of Dimes, Kersting directed a program and fundraising team and oversaw revenue growth from $2 million to more than $3 million annually. Missouri's program also was the March of Dimes "Chapter of the Year" among medium-sized chapters in 2008.

She also helped the chapter push for screening of newborns in Missouri for 29 genetic conditions -- up from five conditions. She also helped initiate an NICU Family Support program for people with babies in the newborn intensive care unit at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Ron Hofmeister, board president for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, said they were "thrilled to have recruited one of the top nonprofit professionals in the St. Louis region to serve as our new director ... "

Doug Morgan, chairman of the March of Dimes for Missouri, said Kersting's departure is "a tremendous loss" for the organization. "It will be tough to fill her shoes. She did a tremendous job."

Kersting said of her appointment: "After losing three family members to leukemia and lymphoma, I am deeply honored to serve in my new role and continue to facilitate the important work of the society ..."