As President of The Dayton Foundation, Mr. Parks works to help people and organizations help others in the Greater Dayton Region and beyond. Each year, the generosity of donors and the work of The Dayton Foundation impact the quality of life throughout the region. Last year, through nearly 3,000 donor funds, the Foundation distributed nearly 14,000 grants totaling $33.2 million to charitable organizations and to efforts fostering the betterment of our region.

Since he was named Foundation President, Mr. Parks has grown philanthropic commitment to our region, elevated the Foundation’s role in fostering community collaborations and leadership initiatives, developed new, first-in-the-nation services for donors and not-for-profit organizations and become a resource on philanthropy and the nonprofit community regionally and nationally. A frequent speaker and writer on issues and trends impacting nonprofits, he also has been interviewed on the national PBS program, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

At any given time, the Foundation plays leadership roles in a number of community efforts. Among recent focuses of Foundation efforts have been diversity and economic inclusion; education and strengthening neighborhoods and families; land conservation; and helping ensure the future of area nonprofit organizations who wish to pursue possible collaborations, alliances and mergers with other nonprofits.

Mr. Parks currently serves with other regional leaders on numerous area projects and initiatives. These presently include The Community Asset Board – Greater Dayton Conference on Youth, Dayton Regional Network, Goodwill/Easter Seals Site Strategic Planning Committee, Greater Dayton Commission on Minority Inclusion, Minority Business Partnership and Midwest Community Foundations Venture (a Midwest regional collaborative of community foundations). He also serves as the Board chair for The Dayton Region New Market Fund. In addition to having served on the Ohio Grantmakers Forum (OGF) Board of Trustees, Mr. Parks serves on the OGF Community Foundation and Public Policy committees, is a member of the OGF Task Force on Resource Development and the OGF CEO Diversity Leadership Circle, and chairs the OGF Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He also is an enthusiastic "Foster Alumni" for the Dayton Early College Academy at the University of Dayton and serves on the Bishop Fenwick High School Advisory Board.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Parks served the YMCA for 22 years, most recently as the President/CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dayton. He and his wife, Amy, have been married for 29 years and have four children, ages 16 to 25.