In this file photo from Sept. 3, 2010, Kathy Clausing-Willis, Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association vice president and chief development officer, claps during a speech at the Lawrence Holidome.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital this week announced the departure of longtime LMH Endowment Association vice president and chief development officer Kathy Clausing-Willis.

LMH spokeswoman Janice Early said Clausing-Willis resigned last week for “personal reasons.” Other details were not provided.

According to a statement from Russ Johnson, the hospital’s president and CEO, Clausing-Willis resigned last week after “investing nearly two decades of her professional career to building the LMH Endowment Association.”

During her tenure, Endowment funds grew from approximately $2 million to $12 million, Johnson said in the statement. The Endowment Association, under Clausing-Willis’ leadership, transferred almost $30 million to the hospital in that time, including $8.1 million raised in the community toward LMH’s $55 million expansion in 2008, the statement read.

Clausing-Willis, who joined LMH in 1998, worked successfully in her efforts to engage the community with its local hospital, Johnson said, including the creation of “the framework and infrastructure” that expanded the LMH donor base to more than 10,000 donors. Clausing-Willis also contributed to several “signature” LMH Endowment Association fundraising events, among them Hearts of Gold, Penny Jones Golf Tournament, Summer Spray 5K runs and Rock the Block — Kick Cancer.

Her leadership also extended to the hospital’s volunteer services, which oversees more than 900 LMH volunteers, as well as her work to institutionalize “organizational policies and financial accountability” for the LMH gift shop and volunteer auxiliary, Johnson said.

“Through these efforts, LMH has developed a broad coalition of community members who believe in our mission and purpose enough to give their time and resources,” Johnson wrote in his statement. “That is a great testimony to Kathy’s work, and more importantly her personal commitment to LMH and the patients and communities we serve.”

Johnson, who joined LMH as CEO and president in August, said he is working closely with the Endowment’s board in determining the hospital’s next steps in filling the vacancy.

“Kathy built a strong team that is capable and committed to continuing the work of the Endowment Association, which gives us the ability to take the time needed to make a thoughtful decision about this important role for LMH,” Johnson said.