Hero Fund Chair Thomas L. Wentling Jr., right, unfurls a resolution for Hero Fund President Eric P. Zahren, left, to celebrate his 10-year-milestone anniversary as a Hero Fund board member.
Zahren was elected a member to the board in 2015 and elected President and Secretary on June 12, 2017. In 2022, he was elected chair of the Commission, serving in that role for two years. More than 660 Carnegie heroes have been awarded the Carnegie Medal over his tenure.
The resolution mentions some of the accomplishments over his career at the Hero Fund, which include leading the Hero Fund in its celebration of 10,000 heroes in 2018, overseeing the updated and refreshed publication of A New Century of Heroes, and directing the Hero Fund’s podcast, Fear on Hold, in 2023. He prioritized the founder’s wishes in the creation of a Roll of Honor on display in the Hero Fund’s Pittsburgh offices in 2019, and he shepherded the Hero Fund to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes, and in the New York Times. In recognizing and celebrating Carnegie heroes he created the Heros for Heroes program.
“His mark on the work and success of the Commission, on the founder’s model, is hereby recognized as deep and indelible, and is commended,” the resolution said.
“This Board recognizes that any success in effecting the charitable purposes ascribed to it by Andrew Carnegie is due in no small part to the selfless participation and skill of its members, as exemplified by Mr. Zahren, who has to date served for 10 years fulfilling Mr. Carnegie’s vision for the Fund.”