- Sara Gardner served as FPHNYC’s Executive Director and then Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2026.
- On the occasion of the publication of the organization’s 2026 impact report, Howell Wechsler, FPHNYC’s new CEO, and Toya Williford, Vice Chair of FPHNYC’s Board of Directors, reflect on Sara’s accomplishments during her longtime tenure.
From Howell Wechsler, CEO:
As the new Chief Executive Officer at the Fund for Public Health NYC, I am honored to introduce our latest Impact Report, The Visible Shield (PDF). It reflects what is possible when public health priorities are advanced through strong collaboration among government, community partners, and philanthropy.
This year’s report carries special resonance. It marks a moment of transition, as we build on the achievements of my predecessor, Sara Gardner, whose nearly two decades of leadership helped shape and strengthen this organization. As Sara reflects in her “Passing the Torch” message, the Fund’s work has always been about more than individual programs — it is about building a lasting infrastructure to respond to urgent health challenges while investing in long-term solutions.
Sara led FPHNYC through the Great Recession, Superstorm Sandy, and a pandemic that tested every part of our public health system. She made the case for a model that aligns public sector leadership with private sector support to drive innovation and scale impact. Under her leadership, FPHNYC raised and managed more than $550 million in public and private funding, supporting over 500 programs that reached millions of New Yorkers.
In picking up the torch from Sara, I am deeply grateful to be leading FPHNYC with an impressive team, a motivated board, and the strength of our unique partnership with the NYC Health Department. I’ve spent more than four decades in public health, and I can’t think of a more consequential moment to return my focus to meeting the needs of my fellow New Yorkers. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the full report and join us as we carry this work, and Sara’s legacy, forward.
From Toya Williford, Vice Chair of FPHNYC’s Board of Directors:
Catalyzing investment in equitable public health programs and running marathons are two of Sara Gardner’s great passions and undoubtedly contributed to her success over 18 years as an accomplished and steadfast leader of the Fund for Public Health NYC. There were times she knew the Fund needed to sprint into action, such as with COVID-19, and other times when she had to set a steady and sustainable pace for the Fund to grow and scale up its ability to lead a diverse portfolio of projects, including maternal health, nutrition programs, and access to primary care services, that improve the lives of millions of people.
I know firsthand that developing and implementing programs that bridge the public and private sectors is not easy. Yet, Sara kept her focus on the long game of strengthening our public health system by fostering greater collaboration between government, community, and philanthropy. Her wellspring of optimism, passion, and an unwavering belief in the importance of the Fund’s work inspired everyone who worked with her to press on and turn challenges into accomplishments. The result, and also Sara’s legacy, is an organization that is battle-tested, nimble, and uniquely suited to respond to the needs of New Yorkers.