Patrick Shaw

Patrick Shaw is a dedicated and passionate leader who aims to better his community. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Patrick's journey into nonprofit leadership began with a strong family foundation raised in a two-parent home with his mother and father, Artis and Patricia Shaw. He believes that having both parents in his home provided him with a balanced upbringing and inspired his current work.

Historically, Patrick was always a scholar and an athlete, resulting in him becoming a Division 1 football player at Indiana University where he played and studied until his graduation with a Bachelor's degree in 1999. In addition to his college degree, Patrick's passion for family, health and service led him to hold numerous leadership positions in business, sports sciences, health and life insurance.

Patrick is a single father to his son, Collin Shaw (20) who currently attends the University of West Florida. Patrick's personal experience with parenting shaped his dedication to supporting fathers. His journey as an active single parent began after his divorce in 2009, inspired a strong commitment to maintaining a healthy and consistent relationship with his son. His experience growing up in a two-parent household reinforced his belief that those circumstances create the best chance for children's successful development into adolescence and adulthood. Conversely, he has witnessed the negative impact on children and families when the father is absent from the home and daily life.

In 2016, Patrick began coordinating groups of men and facilitating conversations about fatherhood to gain a greater understanding about the needs and rights of fathers. After several years of informal advocacy for fathers, Patrick established the 4Fathers nonprofit organization in 2023. 4Fathers is devoted to supporting fathers, recognizing the vital role they play in their children's lives. The organization seeks to address the challenges faced by single fathers and promote healthy romantic relationships, effective parenting, stress management, life skill development, health and wellness practices, career planning, economic empowerment, and mentorship.

Patrick's personal experiences and his commitment to strengthening the community fuels his determination showcase the immense benefit of fathers in the lives of their children and their significance in building thriving communities.