Biographical Info

Paule T. Pachter is Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Cares, Inc., The Harry Chapin Food
Bank. Founded by the late singer, Grammy Award winning songwriter, and social activist Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island, and provides to the best of their ability for the humanitarian needs of our community. The organization is dedicated to promoting the food welfare of Long Island, to raise the nutritional standards of its communities, to bring into closer relation the resources and food needs of the community, and to encourage food self-reliance for all Long Islanders.

Mr. Pachter is a graduate of the Adelphi University School of Social Work and has held several positions within Long Island’s human services community including Deputy Commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. He is credited with influencing the passage of New York State’s social work parity legislation, and in 1985, Mr. Pachter was selected “Nassau County Social Worker of the Year” by the NASW Nassau Division in recognition of his work in the areas of social work and political action, and for his contributions to the fields of mental health. Mr. Pachter is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Association; he is also a 2006 recipient of the New York State Liberty Medal, the state’s highest honor for his work in the relief efforts associated with Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Pachter also received the Town of Hempstead’s “Make a Difference Medal” in 2012 for his work in responding to Super Storm Sandy. Long Island Business News has described Paule Pachter as a leader “who has transformed the work of a food bank to focus on the root causes of hunger and food insecurity by developing some of the most innovative approaches to helping people in need.” As part of his vision, Pachter has redefined the role of a food bank to offer more direct services bringing Long Island Cares in closer contact with people in need, expanding mobile operations and building a network of community resources to increase distribution and capacity, which resulted in the organization receiving Feeding America’s prestigious Hunger’s Hope Award in 2011.