WINTER PARK, Fla. (July 22, 2024) – The Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the selection of Nicholas Abrahams as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective August 26. Abrahams joins WPHF from the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP), where he served in various leadership roles, most recently as senior vice president of partnerships and regional investment.

As a seasoned executive with a proven track record of fostering impactful relationships and driving stakeholder engagement, Abrahams will lead WPHF’s efforts to continue its mission of improving the health and wellbeing of its focus communities of Eatonville, Maitland, and Winter Park. With more than $131.5 million invested in these communities throughout the past 30 years, WPHF is a recognized leader in implementing and supporting innovative programs that address health issues.

“Nicholas joins the Winter Park Health Foundation team with deep, tested, and proven skills in partnership development, community engagement, and creative growth strategies,” said Ann McGee, Chair of the WPHF Board of Trustees. “Hiring Nicholas as our next leader underscores the Board’s vision for the evolution of the Winter Park Health Foundation to be a thought-leader in health on the local, regional and national levels.  We look forward to an expanded involvement in our community that will strengthen our mission of building healthier communities.”

Abrahams has over a decade of experience in government affairs. At the OEP, he played a key role in securing the Build Back Better and National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines grants, bringing millions in federal funding to the region. In 2023, his leadership contributed to the OEP being named National Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Abrahams will leverage his cross-sector experience to maximize WPHF’s philanthropic efforts, including its community programs and services provided at the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park.

“Aiming to live a whole and healthy lifestyle is at the heart of my family’s daily life, and the Winter Park Health Foundation’s mission resonates deeply with our core values. Leading an organization dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of Eatonville, Maitland, and Winter Park is a dream come true,” said Abrahams. “I extend my deepest gratitude to Tim Giuliani and the Orlando Economic Partnership’s board of directors for the opportunity to serve our region over the past seven years.”

Abrahams will succeed Patricia Maddox, who has served as president and CEO since the organization’s founding in 1994. Under her leadership, WPHF has achieved numerous milestones, including the formation of its Coordinated Youth Initiative with Orange County Public Schools, the ideation, development, and operation of the Center for Health & Wellbeing, and more than $100M invested in grants and projects benefiting the communities of Eatonville, Maitland, and Winter Park. 

“The opportunity to help develop and lead such an innovative community-based organization combined with working with dedicated and professional community leaders and staff has been the highlight of my career,” Maddox said. “I look forward to watching the Foundation’s future innovations and investments under Nicholas’ leadership.”

To learn more about the Winter Park Health Foundation and its new president and CEO, please visit www.wphf.org.  For media inquiries and interviews, please contact C. Major at [email protected] or 407.394.6411.

About Nicholas Abrahams
A resident of Maitland with his wife and young daughter, Abrahams holds a bachelor’s degree in social science education from Florida State University and a master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of Central Florida. He currently serves on the boards of several local philanthropic organizations, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, University of Central Florida (UCF) Downtown Dean’s Advisory Council, UCF Burnett Honors College Dean’s Advisory Board and Junior Achievement of Central Florida’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

About the Winter Park Health Foundation
WPHF is a recognized leader in implementing innovative programs that improve the quality of health and wellbeing of its focus communities of Eatonville, Maitland, and Winter Park.  WPHF does that through a creative mix of grants, initiatives, programs, and facilities. As a long-trusted foundation addressing health and healthcare issues, WPHF is recognized as a catalyst for community health research and collaboration. In its 30 years, WPHF has supported hundreds of special initiatives leading to collective impact and policy change, awarding $131.5 million in funding invested into its impact areas. Learn more at WPHF.org.