patricia-paytee_web.jpgWEST PALM BEACH — A longtime volunteer-recruiter for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County & Treasure Coast will be honored for her work and dedication by the Bethesda Hospital Foundation.

Patricia Brown-Paytee of West Palm Beach will be recognized as a Woman of Grace at the 14th Annual Women of Grace Luncheon on Nov. 13 at the Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach.

The event honors women volunteers whose outstanding service inspires and enriches the community. According to the foundation, Women of Grace nominees display exceptional leadership, inspire others to succeed and demonstrate outstanding commitment to community service.

Brown-Paytee was nominated for her work with the Sickle Cell Foundation, where she has served since 2000. The foundation, at 1600 N. Australian Ave. in West Palm Beach, provides clients managing sickle cell disease, sickle cell anemia and/or the sickle cell trait with client advocacy, free sickle-cell screenings, education, individual and family counseling, support groups, prescription cards, the Community Voice program, the Haitian Outreach Project, comprehensive case management services and single gene genetic counseling.

She began as a grant-funded employee. When the funds expired in 2005, she continued in a volunteer capacity. Brown-Paytee recruits, trains and assigns other volunteers in the organization. She also initiated the first annual SCF Volunteer Recognition Celebration in 2005.

Additionally, she coordinates all health fairs and blood drives, schedules and disseminates monthly support notices, facilitates educational activities with the staff to keep them abreast of the latest sickle cell news and assists with maintaining resource inventory. Under her leadership, volunteer participation has tripled. Volunteers assist with program coordination, event management and logistics, office duties and any other needs.

“As a leader, Pat is both self-controlled and self-confident, and her emotions are governed by a God of passion and compassion,” wrote CEO Frank Hayden as part of her nomination.

“Because of this, she has no fear of allowing others to shine, even if doing so in her spotlight. She treats everyone as an honored guest, who has as much to contribute as she, without any attempts to draw attention to herself.”