Landis Communities names Crystal Mills as Vice President of Advancement & Communications

Landis Communities is pleased to announce the appointment of Crystal Mills as Vice President of Advancement & Communications. In this role, she will lead the organization’s fundraising, marketing, and communications efforts.

Mills joins Landis Communities with extensive experience in nonprofit development, communications, and community engagement. She most recently served as Vice President of Development at VisionCorps in Lancaster, where she led strategic fundraising initiatives and led messaging to connect donors with opportunities to support individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Mills will serve on the Landis Communities leadership team and will guide efforts to expand philanthropic support, enhance organizational storytelling, and deepen connections with residents, team members, and the broader community.

Larry Zook, President/CEO of Landis Communities, welcomed Mills to the organization, saying, “Crystal brings a strong blend of advancement leadership, communications expertise, and deep community connection to Landis Communities. Her experience helping people understand and support meaningful mission-centered work will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen relationships with residents, families, team members, donors, and community partners. We are grateful to welcome her to the team.”

Prior to VisionCorps, Mills spent nearly a decade with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Foundation as Director of Development, focusing on major and planned gifts. During her tenure, she played a key role in advancing significant philanthropic initiatives, including a $9 million campaign for a new children’s health center.

Her earlier career includes leadership roles in advancement, communications, and community relations with Lancaster Theological Seminary and Hospice & Community Care. 

Mills holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English from Elizabethtown College. She is actively engaged in the Lancaster community, having served with organizations including the YWCA of Lancaster, Arch Street Center, and the Lancaster County Community Foundation.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to organizations that change lives in meaningful ways,” Mills shared. “Landis Communities commitment to serving older adults with compassion, creativity and purpose resonates deeply with me. The opportunity to contribute to that mission is truly a privilege.”