The Greater Lewes Foundation recently announced the addition of Thomas Donovan, who will manage increased outreach and development efforts for the 26-year-old organization.

A Lewes native and retired senior media executive, Donovan, 62, spent 32 years with the Gannett/USA Today Network, serving the last eight as northeast regional president. Donovan graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor of science degree in human resources in 1987, after which he joined the News Journal in Wilmington and remained with Gannett for the rest of his business career.

Donovan's father, Ronald, worked for the City of Lewes for more than 40 years, serving as its first city manager. In 1997, he retired as general manager of the Lewes Board of Public Works. His mother, Pat, was a registered nurse and worked for Beebe Hospital for four decades as well.

“Tom is a well-known and a much-admired person in Lewes and all of Delaware,” said Joe Stewart, GLF chair.  “We look forward to having him with us for years to come.”

“I love Lewes, and I believe deeply in its future. This role gives me the opportunity to turn that love of community into engagement, investment and lasting impact,” said Donovan.

Stewart said Donovan will work closely with the existing GLF staff and board to increase visibility of the foundation across the greater Lewes community.

“We’ve accomplished a great deal over 25 years, and it is critical for new Lewes residents, in particular, to know about GLF, what it means to Lewes and how it can support their own philanthropic ambitions," Stewart said.

“I believe one of our greatest opportunities is to bring together lifelong residents, newcomers and our business community around a shared love for this special place," said Donovan. "Together, we can protect what makes Lewes unique while investing in its future. Our responsibility is to leave Lewes even stronger, a community our children, grandchildren and generations to come will be proud to call home.”

Donovan served as director, then vice president of advertising for a series of Gannett newspapers in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana and New York. He was president and publisher of The Journal News in White Plains, N.Y., from 2005 to 2008, then New Jersey regional president, overseeing six daily and 20 weekly Gannett publications plus more. During his career, Donovan received numerous community awards as well as Gannett’s Manager of the Year recognition, the highest honor given by the company.

As northeast regional president, Donovan was responsible for 18 media organizations and more than 150 publications employing 1,500 people in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.

After retiring from Gannett in 2019, Donovan served as president and executive director of the Asbury Park Music Foundation, a nonprofit that provides music lessons for underserved youth, supports Jersey Shore musicians and engages the Asbury Park community by providing free musical events throughout the city.