At its annual meeting on June 18, 2024, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission elected Thomas L. Wentling, Jr., to serve as the Commission’s chair, effective immediately. Mr. Wentling replaces Eric Zahren as chair; Zahren will remain President of the Hero Fund.
Mr. Wentling has served on the Hero Fund Commission since he was elected a member in 1991, most recently serving as Vice Chair and sitting on the Hero Fund’s executive, finance, and governance committees. In the past he has served as the Chair of the Hero Fund’s audit and finance committees, as well as the European Hero Funds sub-committee.
Early in his tenure at the Hero Fund, Mr. Wentling chaired the Fund’s investment committee, revamping the Hero Fund’s investment approach, which produced needed financial stability for the Commission.
“I have enjoyed my time at the Commission for the past 33 years, and look forward to serving the Hero Fund in this new role,” Wentling said.
Mr. Wentling is a senior vice president with the WTL Group at Morgan Stanley. He and his wife, Caroline, live in Point Breeze. Their daughter, Callie, lives in Portugal and their son, Tommy, in Amsterdam.
The Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, a private operating foundation, awards the Carnegie Medal to civilians who enter extraordinary danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Throughout the 120 years since the Fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, $44 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance to recipients of the Carnegie Medal or their families.
More information on the Carnegie Medal and the history of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission can be found at carnegiehero.org. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/carnegiehero, Instagram: @carnegiehero, and Twitter: @carnegie_hero.