Local CEO Named Next Recipient of Presidential Lifetime Award

August 7, 2024 | Sarasota

Erin McLeod, President and CEO of Senior Friendship Centers, has been selected as the recipient of the United States President’s Volunteer Service Award – The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor recognizes dedication and service to the community over the past 20 years.

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented by Dr. Jennifer M. Pilate, Certifying Agent for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program on behalf of the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden Jr., along with Vice President Kamala Harris. This award celebrates United States citizens who exemplify a high level of humanitarian assistance to their communities and the nation.

McLeod has dedicated two decades to enriching the lives of over 10,000 seniors throughout Southwest Florida. As only the second CEO since the organization’s founding in 1973, she has focused on addressing societal biases against aging and ensuring that seniors are respected, valued, and have access to essential resources. Beyond her work with Senior Friendship Centers, McLeod has always been a serial volunteer, actively contributing to her community from a young age through school, town, and church initiatives.

Reflecting on the significance of the award, McLeod shares, “This award isn’t just a recognition of a lifetime’s work; it’s about being inspired by others and hoping to be inspiring. It’s about making a positive impact and seeing how people can lift a community, a neighborhood, and the world.” 

Currently, McLeod serves as a board member of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Board Chair for HCA Doctor’s Hospital of Sarasota, and on the Empath LIFE (PACE) Boards of Directors. She is also a member and past president of the Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association. On the state level, she is President-elect for the Florida Council on Aging and an active member of the Aging Society of America, the National Council on Aging, and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs. Additionally, McLeod is a long-time volunteer at Church of the Redeemer.  

“Erin has dedicated 20 years to improving the lives of seniors in Southwest Florida, and we were thrilled to be a part of the nominating process and see her recognized nationally for this life changing work”, says Declan J. Sheehy, Chief Advancement Officer at Senior Friendship Centers.  

“Erin’s continued endeavor to strive toward the ‘more perfect union’ our forefathers envisioned makes her a deserving recipient of this honor,” says Dr. Jennifer M. Pilate, Certifying Agent for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program. “Her leadership and compassion serve as a powerful example of how one individual can make a profound difference in the community.”

For media inquiries, please e-mail jvelarde@friendshipcenters.org or tcardwell@friendshipcenters.org or call (828) 215 4018.