50 Most Highly effective Folks of 2023: Philanthropy & Group Voices
Orlando’s visionary leaders and organizations are united of their dedication to make a transformative affect on the group. Derrick Chubbs leads Second Harvest Meals Financial institution, offering 300,000 meals day by day. Jeff Hayward leads Coronary heart of Florida United Means in training, stability, and well being initiatives. Catherine Steck McManus advocates for equitable housing insurance policies at Habitat for Humanity Larger Orlando & Osceola County. Ed Durkee leads Goodwill Industries in sustainable progress and empowerment initiatives. Runway to Hope, based by Mark and Josie NeJame, transforms pediatric most cancers care, whereas Pamela Landwirth brings happiness and hope to households with sick youngsters.
1. Derrick Chubbs |President And CEO, Second Harvest Meals Financial institution Of Central Florida
In 2022, Derrick Chubbs assumed the position of President and CEO at Second Harvest Meals Financial institution of Central Florida (SHFB). His management extends over the notable non-profit group, with a deal with mitigating starvation and its underlying causes throughout a various expanse of seven counties inside Central Florida. The area harbored a distressing estimate of greater than half 1,000,000 people, households, and youngsters who grappled with uncertainty concerning their subsequent nourishing meal. Collaboratively, a devoted workforce of 160 personnel, an meeting of quite a few volunteers, and an alliance with over 600 associate companies diligently orchestrated the supply of round 300,000 meals every day, reaching out to those native compatriots in want.
Earlier than his tenure at SHFB, Chubbs’ notable expertise encompassed his position as President and CEO of the Central Texas Meals Financial institution, stationed in Austin, Texas. This meals financial institution held the excellence of being the most important starvation reduction institution throughout Central Texas, tending to the wants of 21 counties.
Previous his foray into the meals financial institution sector in November 2016, Chubbs had accrued practically a decade’s value of service throughout the American Purple Cross. Throughout this era, he ascended the ranks, donning roles equivalent to Nationwide Vice President for Catastrophe Workforce Readiness, Division Vice President for the Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division (shouldering operational obligations spanning 9 states), and Regional CEO of the American Purple Cross of Central Texas.
Earlier than his pivot to the non-profit sector, Chubbs’ skilled background spanned over 15 years throughout the realm of for-profit know-how. All through this section of his profession, he held influential positions inside corporations equivalent to IBM, Pervasive Software program, and Dell.
He was celebrated as an honoree at Onyx Journal’s “Males of Honor” occasion. Moreover, his efforts merited acknowledgment from the Seedling Basis, the “Integrity Award” from Austin 1st Tee, the “Legend of the Yr Award” from the 4ATX Basis (Austin Soccer Staff), The “Austin Hero Award” from CultureMap, and plenty of extra.
Photograph by Roberto Gonzalez
2. Jeff Hayward | President & Ceo, Coronary heart Of Florida United Means
Since December 2016, Jeff Hayward has held the place of President & CEO at Coronary heart of Florida United Means. He boasts greater than twenty years of expertise within the United Means community and the nonprofit sector, bringing a definite and various ability set to his position.
Earlier than becoming a member of Central Florida, Hayward made his mark as chief of exterior affairs at United Means of Massachusetts Bay (Boston), the place he oversaw the strategic allocation of practically $32 million yearly towards initiatives and companies.
Previous to this, as senior vp of group affect, he formed United Means’s methods in areas like wholesome childhood growth, youth alternatives, and household monetary stability. Hayward’s management additionally prompted a pivotal shift in United Means’s group funding strategy in 2007, tying funding to tangible outcomes in these precedence areas.
His skilled journey, merging politics, private and non-private sectors, geared up him nicely. A former chief of workers to the Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts, and a member of the Massachusetts Home of Representatives, Hayward later turned New England vp for a publicly traded healthcare firm. His involvement in groundbreaking initiatives to cut back homelessness demonstrates his dedication to social affect.
In Central Florida, Hayward’s affect extends as a Board and Govt Committee member of the Central Florida Fee on Homelessness, a Board member of CareerSource Central Florida, and Secretary/Treasurer of United Means of Florida.
Photograph by Roberto Gonzalez
3. Catherine Steck Mcmanus | President & CEO, Habitat For Humanity Larger Orlando & Osceola County
Catherine Steck McManus serves as an distinctive and award-winning government, on the helm of Habitat for Humanity Larger Orlando & Osceola County. Her devoted management is instrumental in uniting people for a typical trigger – the development of properties, communities, and the nurturing of hope. With a outstanding monitor report spanning practically a quarter-century in Central Florida’s nonprofit sector, McManus leverages her expertise because the group’s president and CEO to drive the mission of offering secure and inexpensive housing for all.
As a fervent advocate for equitable housing insurance policies, McManus channels her in depth experience into guaranteeing that everybody has entry to a safe and fairly priced dwelling. This dedication was acknowledged by Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings in 2019, when he appointed her to the Housing for All Workgroup. A 12 months prior, McManus orchestrated the enlargement of the Habitat Larger Orlando affiliate to embody Osceola County, amplifying the affect of inexpensive housing initiatives all through Central Florida.
McManus extends her affect past the native sphere by serving on the boards of administrators for each Habitat for Humanity Florida and the U.S. Council for Habitat for Humanity Worldwide. Moreover, her dedication was acknowledged by means of prestigious accolades equivalent to being named one of many 2022 Girls Who Imply Enterprise by the Orlando Enterprise Journal, and one in all Central Florida’s Impressed Girls Leaders from i4 Enterprise.
Photograph Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Larger Orlando & Osceola
4. Ed Durkee |President, Goodwill Industries Of Central Florida
Within the vibrant panorama of Orlando, a reputation stands out as a catalyst for transformative change – Ed Durkee. Because the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida (GICF) because the onset of 2020, Durkee’s management has propelled the group into an period of outstanding progress and empowerment.
Below Durkee’s steering, GICF has achieved unprecedented milestones, signaling his distinctive affect. The group witnessed a outstanding 26 % surge in its workforce through the years 2021 and 2022. This enlargement was accompanied by a commendable 16 % elevation in front-line hourly wages throughout the identical interval, reaching a staggering 52.6 % improve since 2019.
Durkee’s visionary outlook extends past quick progress. His dedication to sustainability shines by means of GICF’s environmentally acutely aware initiatives. The diversion of a powerful 20.1 million kilos of textiles and materials waste from native landfills in 2022 alone underscores his dedication to the group’s well-being. GICF’s projected plan to divert 23 million kilos in 2023 reveals Durkee’s enduring affect on sustainable practices.
What really distinguishes Durkee’s management is his people-centric strategy. GICF’s social enterprise mannequin, working lengthy earlier than the idea gained prominence, exemplifies this dedication. By modern packages like Prosperity Planning and Goodwill Students, Durkee empowers staff past conventional measures.
Photograph by Kathy Gdula
5. Mark & Josie Nejame | Co-Founders, Runway To Hope
Based in 2010 by Mark and Josie NeJame, Runway to Hope launched into a visionary quest to boost native youngsters’s hospitals’ oncology packages and maintain Central Florida’s funding. By Runway to Hope’s strategic investments, assets have been optimized, service duplication curbed, and native care elevated.
The NeJames expressed, “Our modest dream has blossomed right into a tangible actuality. Again in 2010, we envisioned a direct help system for pediatric
cancer-affected households in our group. Our gratitude is aware of no bounds for every particular person contributing to this collective mission. United, we aspire to stride in direction of a remedy for childhood most cancers.”
Through the years, Runway to Hope metamorphosed into one in all Orlando’s largest youngsters’s charities, channeling $4.3 million into increasing oncology care at three youngsters’s hospitals: Introduction Well being for Kids, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Kids, and Nemours Kids’s Hospital.
Photograph by Roberto Gonzalez
6. Pamela Landwirth | President & CEO, Give Youngsters The World
Landwirth embodies dedication, inspiring a faithful group of workers, volunteers, and donors who deliver the Village’s mission to life. Since becoming a member of in 1992 and assuming management in 1995, she oversees Village operations and strategic initiatives.
With a 16-year background at Walt Disney World, Landwirth introduced beneficial resort administration, human useful resource growth, and challenge planning experience. After Disney, she consulted for Onerous Rock Cafe, contributing to human assets, organizational growth, and strategic planning.
Below Landwirth’s steering, Give Youngsters The World Village has remodeled remarkably. It expanded from 32 to 89 acres, with villas rising from 56 to 166. Eleven new venues and points of interest, like Julie’s Safari Theatre and Matthew’s Boundless Playground, have been added. Volunteer shifts quadrupled from 421 to over 1,600 weekly.
Crucially, household visits grew from 3,949 in 1995 to 7,600 at present. Pamela tirelessly strives to deliver happiness and hope to those households.
