PACCC CEO Lee Pfab Announced as Tall Tree Award Winner for Outstanding Professional

Celebrating Lee Pfab's Tall Tree Award & Her Unwavering Dedication to PACCC

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our CEO, Lee Pfab, has been honored with the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce’s Tall Tree Award in the category of Outstanding Professional.

The Tall Tree Awards celebrate those who make a profound difference in our community. Honorees are carefully selected based on their local impact, the breadth of their contributions, the diversity of the individuals they impact, and the timeliness and originality of their contribution.

Lee was nominated with enthusiastic support from our Board of Directors, the City of Palo Alto’s Office of Human Services and community partners. Since her very first day as CEO, Lee has been deeply determined to elevate PACCC. Her nomination highlighted her phenomenal strides in fulfilling PACCC’s vision to build “a community where children thrive, educators are valued, and families are supported.”

Under Lee’s experienced and nuanced leadership, PACCC, our children, and our families experience tangible results in early childhood education and care. Her nomination specifically highlighted the following qualities and actions that demonstrate her commitment to PACCC’s mission:

• Putting Children First: Lee’s profound care and passion for our community’s children was demonstrated when she proactively approached the Palo Alto Unified School District to help the large number of children lingering on waitlists for the District’s ELOP program.
• Fierce Advocacy and Strategic Leadership: Described by our city partners as an “active listener, change-maker, and keen strategic thinker,” Lee is consistently out in the community building relationships and advocating for the families and children we serve.
• Expanding Resources: Lee has diligently formed new partnerships, set the foundation for an endowment, as well as successfully secured and increased grant funding, allowing PACCC to elevate our core programs and make a tangible difference in the lives of those we support.
• Empowering the Organization: As an outcome-driven leader, Lee actively mentors and coaches the Board of Directors and Staff to ensure our organization is fully equipped to maximize its potential by supporting our educators.

Reflecting on this achievement and her vision for our future, Lee shared: "It’s my honor to not only develop sustainability and the next chapter, but what I love the most is seeing those around me stretch their capacity to make great things happen."

Lee's commitment to PACCC is clear, and her leadership ensures that we will continue to be a strong, nurturing community of educators and caregivers for Palo Alto’s most precious asset – the children. Please join us in congratulating Lee on this incredibly well-deserved recognition!

Best regards,
Cynthia Wood
PACCC Chair Elect