Judith Gatti · Director of Institutional Giving
Originally from Mt. Olive, North Carolina (the pickle capital of the South), Gatti grew up loving horses, dogs, music, writing, poetry, and gardening. Instilled with a strong belief in God and family, she credits her early training and upbringing as the basis and foundation for her successes in life. Gatti says that she believes in persistence; quitting is not an option; she trusts herself and has learned - ‘to meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.’ Kipling.
Before joining Pelican Harbor, Ms. Gatti served as the Executive Director of Feeding South Florida until her retirement in 2011. Her responsibilities included operations, financial stability, accountability, reporting, and future growth. Other areas of responsibility included creating and developing new funding and educational initiatives, expanding and enhancing community relationships, and implementing a vision and strategic plan for the organization to meet the community’s needs.
As the Executive Director, she was accountable for contract management, negotiation, and compliance with Feeding America, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, and The Children’s Trust. She trained and led the team on public speaking opportunities to educate local communities and state senators and representatives on hunger and poverty issues; represented the organization on community committees and boards interested in finding solutions to a hunger-free Florida.
Community and volunteer activities include serving as:
Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Snug Harbor Townhouse Association.
Finance Chair of the Florida Association of Food Banks.
A member of the Florida Marlins Community Foundation organizing committee for the Dinner on the Diamond.
A member of the Board of Directors of Bay Oaks - an assisted living facility for the elderly.
Organizer and host of “The Children’s Workshop” Art Reception at the Bakehouse Complex.
A member of the Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation organizing committees for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
A member of the Hunger Coalition committees in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
Organizer and host of reception for “The Rainmakers” of Fischer Fineberg Elementary School.
On the committee of the Tennis Clinic and Jamboree for the Boys and Girls Club at Flamingo Park. A summer program sponsored by the National Tennis Association and community leaders.
Secretary for the Mayors Cultural Initiative Team of Miami Beach.
A volunteer with the fundraising telethon and auction for Channel Thirteen, a public television station in New York City.
Judith Gatti – Development Director – 2017 to present
“I am grateful to make a contribution to the mission of Pelican Harbor Seabird Station and have great respect for the work being done on the front lines every day.” Judith Gatti
