Baltimore Native Patricia Dash Joins NKF-MD as Mission Advancement Vice President

LUTHERVILLE, Md. – The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland (NKF-MD) has named Patricia Dash vice president of mission advancement.

The 32-year non-profit veteran will provide strategic vision and collaborative leadership for a fundraising plan to increase annual revenue from special events, program grants, the Kidney Car Program and other funding sources.

In addition to overseeing the Foundation’s programs and services, Dash will oversee and direct special events, and serve as the point person for all advocacy and marketing initiatives to expand the reach of the organization and improve the health of those individuals living with kidney disease. She also will write grants and oversee all IT related functions.

“I look forward to furthering the mission of NKF-MD’s reach in the communities served,” said Dash, a native Baltimorean who now resides in Hanover, Pa., with her husband, Richard. “It is important to diagnose kidney disease early and it is critical to ensure that awareness of kidney disease is recognized as the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S. which, unfortunately, kills more people every year.”

“Statistics show that kidney disease kills more people annually than breast cancer, prostate cancer or leukemia. Seventy-three million American adults (1 in 3) are at risk of developing kidney disease,” she added. “Raising awareness of kidney disease is critical and could slow progression, prevent complications and/or reduce cardiovascular-related outcomes. My goal is to help elevate awareness in the community.”

Dash joins NKF-MD after spending her entire career with Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GCSM). She started in 1983 as an intern and steadily moved up to retail sales manager, business manager, operations manager, chief administrative officer, membership/volunteerism/programs senior vice president, strategy vice president and chief development officer.

Along the way, she has led and motivated teams comprising more than 40 employees and 300 key volunteers, and managed product sales and fund development exceeding $5 million in revenue. GSCM also honored her with its Daisy Award, Appreciation Pin and Excellent Manager/Community Leader Award.

Active in the Greater Baltimore Committee, Association of Fundraising Professionals and Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Dash graduated from the Network2000 Mentoring Program and earned a Certificate of Non- Profit Management from the Mandel Center for Non Profit Organizations - Case Western Reserve University.

She also completed professional development training in preparing successful grant proposals at Indiana University’s Center of Philanthropy, as well as strategic learning, retail management, product sales management, outcomes management, human resources management, facilities & property and risk management, membership, volunteerism and program management at the Edith Macy Conference Center.

Having previously taken business, marketing management and supervisory development courses at Catonsville Community College, Carroll Community College and Howard Community College, she is close to completing requirements for a degree in administrative and managerial sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

About NKF-MD

Serving central and western Maryland, the Delmarva Peninsula and portions of West Virginia, the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is the area’s only voluntary health agency dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of kidney and urinary tract diseases. For more information, visit www.kidneymd.org.