Lindsay Kist

In my role as Winter Park Health Foundation’s Vice President, I provide strategic oversight and planning for our philanthropic community investments, partnership initiatives, and the communications and marketing efforts that support WPHF’s mission-driven work. I lead our portfolio of grantmaking, special events, brand initiatives, community education at the Center for Health & Wellbeing and in partner locations, and digital and print content planning, production, and publication.

I pursued a career in non-profit work because I sought to make a difference in people’s lives. At WPHF, we do that in the most important way – by supporting and bettering the very thing that matters the most, our health. From our grantmaking with our community partners to our education portfolio to our offering of healthy and delicious food at Nourish and beyond, WPHF touches the lives of so many with one simple goal and no ulterior motive. I find a lot of pride in knowing that the work we do makes people’s lives better, longer, healthier, and happier.

My mantra has always been “grit and grace.” Grit reminds me to face challenges head-on, to remain determined, and to always see things through with passion and focus. Grace reminds me to find joy and fulfillment in the service of others, to never lose my sense of humor, and to look for the levity in every situation.

My husband Joe and I have a young daughter, Julia, with whom we spend most of our time, fostering our shared love of sports and physical activity, music, and spending time with our family and friends. I also love to cook and entertain, and I am perpetually decorating and re-decorating our 100-year-old home in downtown Orlando. Riding the Peloton, swimming, and playing tennis (not well!) provide me with a much-needed physical outlet and social connections that are so important to our overall wellbeing.

Prior to joining the Winter Park Health Foundation team in 2018, I spent a decade in New York City working for the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), a 50-year-old nonprofit organization focused on advocacy and access for girls and women in sports founded by tennis champion and social justice icon Billie Jean King. I started as a media intern, then managed the Foundation’s digital communication and marketing efforts, PR, and sponsorships. Later, I started and directed the organization’s athlete leadership development program for collegiate and professional athletes transitioning out of competitive play. After my time at WSF, I was recruited to work as the Director of Digital Marketing and Social Strategy at Excelle Sports, a digital-first publishing start-up that provided news and feature content on more than 20 NCAA and professional women’s sports. I moved to Central Florida in 2018 to join WPHF, and love our close proximity to Florida’s beautiful beaches, the friendliness and hospitableness of our communities, and of course, the weather.  I grew up in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia and am a fourth-generation graduate of North Carolina State University. I am very proud to have continued my family’s tradition as a member of the Wolfpack. At NCSU, I earned a BA in Public Sector Leadership and was a scholarship member of the varsity swim team.