FPN News

Florida Philanthropy Leaders Join Florida Philanthropic Network Board of Directors

Mark Brewer Elected New Board Chair

TAMPA, Florida (February 11, 2013) - Four leaders in Florida's philanthropy field have joined the Board of Directors of Florida Philanthropic Network, a statewide association of grantmakers. At its meeting on January 30, 2013, FPN's Board elected Kim Bentley, JM Family Enterprises, Inc.; Matt Haggman, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; and Patricia Maddox, Winter Park Health Foundation, to three-year terms on the Board. The Directors also elected to bring back to the Board Susan Towler, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, in May 2013.

"We are pleased to welcome these leaders of Florida foundations and corporate grantmaking organizations to the Board of Directors of Florida Philanthropic Network," said Mark Brewer, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Florida, who was elected by the Board of Directors as its new Chair. "They all bring valuable perspectives and experiences to help guide FPN as we work to build philanthropy to build a better Florida."

In addition to electing Brewer as Chair, FPN's Directors elected Susan Towler as Vice Chair and Katie Scanlan as Secretary/Treasurer. Scanlan is SVP, Metro East Markets & Centralized Operations Executive at Bank of America, based in Tampa.

At the Board meeting and FPN’s conference the following day, the Board of Directors honored Steve Marcus, President & CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida in Miami, for his past two years of service as Board Chair.

Kim Bentley is Assistant Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy for JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a diversified automotive company headquartered in Deerfield Beach. In this position, she is responsible for the implementation of its corporate philanthropy strategy. Bentley currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Discovery and Science. She has received recognition from several nonprofit organizations including Women's Way of the United Way of Broward County Volunteer of the Year Award, Big Brothers Big Sisters Déjà vu Ball Honoree, Leadership Broward Fun Lunch Honoree, and March of Dimes Women of Distinction.

Matt Haggman is Program Director, Miami for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami. He joined the staff of the Knight Foundation in October 2011. Previously, Haggman worked for The Miami Herald covering Miami-Dade County government and real estate. He has also covered legal affairs for the Daily Business Review. In 2008, Haggman co-authored an award-winning series, Borrowers Betrayed, which detailed lax state oversight of the home loan industry that contributed to Florida's rise in mortgage fraud. The series won numerous awards, including the Gerald Loeb Award, the highest honor in business journalism.

Patricia Maddox is President & CEO of the Winter Park Health Foundation in Winter Park, which she has led since its inception in 1994. Maddox has directed all facets of the foundation's mission and program planning. She came to Florida in 1993 leaving Duke University, where she had been Executive Director of Medical School Alumni Affairs and Development. Currently, Maddox is active in the health and health care community, serving on the University of Central Florida College of Health and Public Affairs Executive Committee and Advisory Board, the Metro YMCA Board, the Orange County Chairman's Healthcare Roundtable, the Heart of Florida United Way Investing in Results Council, the Mayflower Retirement Community Board of Directors and the Florida Hospital Board of Directors.

Susan Towler is Vice President of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director of Community Affairs for Florida Blue and has responsibility for the company's community investment programming. She previously had responsibility for coordinating and implementing Florida Blue’s public relations programs and providing strategic communications counsel on critical business issues. Towler serves on the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. In addition, she is the 2012-2013 Chair of Leadership Florida and on the Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.

Florida Philanthropic Network is a statewide association of grantmakers working to build philanthropy to build a better Florida. FPN's members are private independent, corporate and family foundations, community foundations and corporate giving programs - from Miami to Jacksonville; Naples to Pensacola - who hold over $6.5 billion in assets (excluding members located outside Florida) and invest over $430 million annually to improve the quality of life for our residents and communities. Our members share a commitment to promoting philanthropy, fostering collaboration and advancing public policy by Florida, in Florida.

Contact:

David Biemesderfer
Florida Philanthropic Network
813-983-7396

  

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Photos:

> Kim Bentley
> Mark Brewer
> Matt Haggman
> Patty Maddox
> Susan Towler
> Steve Marcus Honored for FPN Board Service (pictured with FPN President & CEO David Biemesderfer)