Patrick McNamara, president and CEO of Palm Health Foundation was named Nonprofit Executive of the Year by Nonprofits First at the 2018 Hats Off Nonprofit Awards on October 2, 2018. The award honors a nonprofit leader whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving a community issue. McNamara was also recognized for demonstrating excellence in leadership and management, and inspiring others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results.
McNamara has been a force for change in health, housing and human services for two decades in Palm Beach County. In his former position as president and CEO of Community Partners, he led the newly integrated Housing Partnership and Parent Child Center, unifying the organizations’ housing, community and child and family mental health services to create a comprehensive system of care. One of his significant accomplishments included securing over $25 million in awards and contracts to build housing programs for populations in need, including Evernia Place in West Palm Beach, an 85-unit affordable housing complex for low-income seniors.
McNamara joined Palm Health Foundation as president and CEO in 2017 with a charge to build vital partnerships, strengthen relationships with system partners and seek innovative approaches to solving complex health problems in the areas of mental health, diabetes, nursing, and family caregiving. One of his recent accomplishments was joining forces with Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network to envision a way to unify fragmented silos into a comprehensive county-wide system of care for the addicted. Through a unique 100-day challenge process introduced by McNamara, partners put in safety nets where none existed, proactively connected the addicted with detox services, treatment, and certified recovery housing, and opened a new intake facility. By the end of the 100 days, an entirely new Safety Net Recovery System of care had been established and 135 people had received services.
PHF trustee, Greg Quattlebaum nominated McNamara for the award. “Pat challenges himself and his team to set high goals and find innovative, collaborative solutions to achieve them,” said Quattlebaum. “His true leadership is evident in how he tackles our community’s most daunting challenges through collaboration and his commitment to sustainable, meaningful change,”
McNamara was recognized previously for his work as the recipient of the 2013 Leadership Palm Beach County Excellence Award and Alumni Citizenship Award from Franciscan University in 2014.
About Palm Health Foundation
Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $75 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation, visit PalmHealthFoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.
