BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – A longtime Manatee County nonprofit executive is being recognized among top female leaders across the Tampa Bay region.
Maribeth Phillips, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Women Who Win Award in the Nonprofit category.
The Women Who Win Awards highlight women recognized for career success, mentorship, and philanthropy, with categories including technology, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship. Winners will be announced during a gala on April 17, 2026, at The Vinoy in St. Petersburg.
Phillips has served as President and CEO since November 2012. Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee includes multiple health and human services programs in Manatee County, including Home-delivered Meals, The Food Bank of Manatee, Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining Centers. The nonprofit says 92 cents of every dollar donated goes back into its programs.
Under Phillips’ leadership, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee has received several community honors, including being named the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and winning multiple “Best Nonprofit” and “Best Non-Profit Organization” recognitions in reader-voted awards over the past several years.
Phillips has also been recognized for her leadership in the community, including receiving the Spirit of Manatee Award in 2025 for hurricane disaster recovery efforts connected to 2024 storms.
She currently serves as Board President of Meals on Wheels Florida, vice chair of the Gulf Coast CEO Forum, and serves on the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corporation.
Phillips is originally from Connecticut and has lived in Lakewood Ranch for more than 20 years.
For more information, visit MealsOnWheelsPLUS.org.
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