Sara Kurovski is speaking Monday about Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Sara is passionate about those that she serves. In 2013 she became the first female mayor for the city of
Pleasant Hill, Iowa. That journey was a result of her career starting out at a local government agency,
Metro Waste Authority, and obtaining her master’s in public administration; while serving on local
boards such as the Board of Adjustment, Plan and Zoning, and Polk County Conservation. Sara’s story
landed her on the Lean In website and then in the second edition of Lean In: for Graduates by Sheryl
Sandberg.
Pleasant Hill, Iowa. That journey was a result of her career starting out at a local government agency,
Metro Waste Authority, and obtaining her master’s in public administration; while serving on local
boards such as the Board of Adjustment, Plan and Zoning, and Polk County Conservation. Sara’s story
landed her on the Lean In website and then in the second edition of Lean In: for Graduates by Sheryl
Sandberg.
While Sara’s service to Pleasant Hill grew (re-elected for her third term in 2021) her mayoral role also
landed her on numerous boards such as Bravo, D.A.R.T., Metropolitan Planning Organization,
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Metropolitan Advisory Council, Iowa Municipal Worker’s Compensation
Association and Wastewater Reclamation Authority. Sara’s career path evolved as well during this time.
She worked as a sustainability manager for Kum & Go Corporate and then transitioned to the non-profit
world in the role of the Tocqueville Society Director for United Way of Central Iowa.
Sara’s passion and leadership in both worlds resulted in the joining of the Business Record’s 40 Under 40
class of 2015 and the Business Record Emerging Woman of Influence in the same year. Then in 2016
Sara was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) to take part of a seven-
member delegation to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Through strong participation and leadership
on that delegation, Sara was selected to lead a delegation for ACYPL to SE Asia in March of 2018. Global
impact, translating to the local connection is an area of interest for Sara, which resulted in her being
nominated to the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy Spring Fellowship in spring of 2018 at the Center
for Strategy and International Studies in Washington DC. Sara is a member of the 2022 -2023 Leadership
Iowa Class and was honored by Truman State as a member of the inaugural class of ECHO 25 under 40
leaders in 2022.
In Spring of 2021, Sara set her sight on a career transition that would be a blend of heart and strategy;
to become the next President and CEO for Make-A-Wish Iowa. She now leads the team to strengthen
their statewide efforts and ensuring that every eligible child fighting a critical illness, in the state of Iowa,
can receive their wish. Since joining the team at MAW IA, they have received the largest donation in the
organization’s history ($1.965 million from the Gerdin Family) and have had record breaking years for
granting wishes but also finding eligible children to receive a wish. Sara often travels many days of the
week across Iowa to meet with volunteers, donors, wish families and companies who want to ensure
that children can receive a life changing wish.
Outside of Sara’s public service and career, she has a lot of fun with family and friends. She is married to
her high school sweetheart, Todd; they met at Catholic Youth Camp. The two of them are raising two
boys who love to keep them very busy. Sara especially loves to continue global travel adventures,
reading, enjoying music, a good movie night, and family time. Sara received her undergraduate degree
from Truman State University and was a member of the ultimate frisbee team, Alpha Gamma Delta, and
marching band in her college years.