DOROTHY PACELLA

Dorothy Pacella is Executive Director of the Friends of THIRTEEN, Inc., an independent nonprofit organization serving as a liaison between public television station THIRTEEN/WNET New York and its tri-state constituency (N.Y, N.J., and CT).

The Friends organization has been supporting THIRTEEN for over 40 years, and Dorothy has been Executive Director since 1989. She is responsible for expanding the reach and effectiveness of the Friends organization. Working with a volunteer board of directors, and volunteers across the tri-state area, she is responsible for designing and implementing projects that will carry out the mission of THIRTEEN/WNET.

Dorothy is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB) since 1996; served as Membership Chair, 1996-2003; Nominating Committee Chair 2003-2004; Scholarship Committee Member, 1995-2003; Task Force Chair for the NFPB Re-Invention Project (2001-2004) and Chair of the NFPB 2003 Volunteer Leadership Summit that took place at the PBS Development Conference. In October 2005, Dorothy was elected Chair of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting. Dorothy was an APTS CAT (Community Advocate Team) leader from 1995-2001.

In 1995, Dorothy was the recipient of the NFPB Dorothy Kemps Achievement Award in Volunteer Management; received in 1998 the APTS Outstanding Community Advocate Award for distinguished volunteer service through grassroots advocacy efforts; was recognized in 2003 with the APTS David J. Brugger Grassroots Advocacy Award for the outstanding work of the Friends of Thirteen in local grassroots advocacy; and was recognized in 2004 as Trustee of the Year by the National Friends of Public Broadcasting.

Dorothy has had a long and varied career in volunteerism for several Brooklyn nonprofits in fields ranging from health care to the arts. She has been actively involved in community service for over forty years. Dorothy founded the Auxiliary of Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, in 1978 and served as President, 1978-1980, and again from 1992 to 1994; she has also held the office of Treasurer and Vice President. She presently serves as Past-President on the board of the New York Methodist Hospital Auxiliary in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She served as a New York Methodist Hospital Trustee in 1978-1980 and again in 1992-1994. Dorothy is presently a member of the United Hospital Fund Committee on Health Care Issues, serving since 1999.

Dorothy established the Gift Shop at New York Methodist Hospital, and served as manager 1980-1989, with a staff of volunteers. She is a past member of the Gift Shop Committee. She is the recipient of the 1988 Methodist Hospital Auxilian of the Year Award and in 1998, she was honored at the 20th anniversary celebration of the New York Methodist Hospital Auxiliary.

Dorothy is a long-term resident of Brooklyn, married to Dr. Vincent Pacella; they have two children and two grandchildren.