The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation (FBCF), Florida’s leading statewide organization in the fight against breast cancer, has announced that Karen Patti has been named Executive Director of the organization.
Patti brings more than 20 years of experience in women’s health leadership, nonprofit growth, and statewide program development, with a strong record of advancing breast cancer advocacy, education, research, and access-focused initiatives across Florida. She will begin her role on January 5, 2026.
Founded in 1993, the FBCF is unique among breast cancer organizations for its Florida-first model – ensuring that every dollar raised supports education, research, advocacy, and direct services for Floridians. Through its End Breast Cancer specialty license plate, policy leadership, and research grantmaking, the FBCF plays a central role in shaping how breast cancer is addressed across the state.
Patti joins the FBCF from the Promise Fund, where she most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and helped expand one of the nation’s most impactful community-based women’s health models to increase screening, diagnostic and treatment access for underserved women. During her tenure, the organization drove public-private strategies that improved access to care through extensive collaborations with government, healthcare, and philanthropic leaders to significantly expand navigation services, strengthen partnerships with federally qualified health centers and county health departments, and replicate its Women’s Health Program in multiple communities across southeast Florida.
Throughout her career, Patti has focused on aligning public policy, healthcare partnerships, and philanthropic investment to improve breast cancer screening, treatment pathways, survivorship resources, research investment, and long-term outcomes. Her work emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, cross-sector collaboration, and measurable impact at scale.
“Karen brings deep experience building and scaling mission-driven initiatives, along with a clear understanding of how advocacy, policy, research, and community partnerships come together to drive impact,” said Nicole Marriott, Chair of the FBCF Board of Directors. “Her leadership positions the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to strengthen its role as Florida’s statewide hub for breast cancer advocacy, elevate our voice with policymakers, and expand our impact across research, education, and outcomes.”
Patti’s appointment reflects the Foundation’s commitment to expanding its statewide leadership role and sharpening its Florida-first impact.
A licensed speech-language pathologist by training, Patti brings a people-centered, outcomes-driven perspective grounded in both clinical experience and nonprofit leadership.
“Florida has an opportunity to lead the nation in how breast cancer is addressed—from screening and treatment to survivorship, research, and long-term outcomes,” said Patti. “The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation has the reach, credibility, and partnerships to drive meaningful change at scale. It is an honor to lead the Foundation as it strengthens advocacy, education, research, and community-based solutions that improve outcomes for women and men across Florida.”
As Executive Director, Patti will focus on leading the FBCF as Florida’s leading convener for breast cancer advocacy, research, education, and survivorship; strengthening partnerships across government, healthcare, and philanthropy; and advancing policies and investments that improve screening, treatment, research, and outcomes statewide.
For more than 30 years, the FBCF has worked to improve the lives of those affected by breast cancer through advocacy, education, research, and direct services. Patti’s appointment marks a new chapter in advancing that mission statewide.