Madelynn Hirneise, Experienced and Esteemed Nonprofit Leader, To Follow Holly Hagler’s Successful Tenure
ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 27, 2026) Meals on Wheels Orange County’s Board of Directors today named Madelynn Hirneise as its incoming President and Chief Executive Officer. She will officially join the organization on May 27, 2026, coinciding with current CEO Holly Hagler’s planned retirement after more than 15 years of extraordinary leadership. Madelynn comes to Meals on Wheels Orange County from Families Forward, the leading nonprofit in Orange County serving families facing homelessness.
“After a thoughtful, deliberate search to ensure continuity, stability and a strong foundation for advancing our mission, the Board is thrilled to welcome Madelynn Hirneise as our next CEO,” said Randy A. Platt, C.A. RCFE, Board Chair. “Madelynn brings exactly the kind of leadership our organization needs for its next chapter. Her work supporting families experiencing homelessness reflects a deep understanding of how critical stability, dignity, community support, and essential services are in people’s lives. Those same values are at the heart of our mission to nourish the lives of older adults.”
“Meals on Wheels Orange County has long been a trusted lifeline for older adults and their families. Every day, this organization does incredible work to ensure seniors have access to nutritious meals, meaningful connection, and the support they need to live independently,” said Hirneise. “I’m honored to join such a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and partners who care deeply about the people we serve. As our community continues to age, I’m excited to build on the strong foundation already in place and expand our reach so even more seniors across Orange County have the nourishment, support, and dignity they deserve.”
“The Board was impressed not only by Madelynn’s experience leading a mission-driven organization, but by her genuine passion for ensuring older adults are cared for and connected. We are excited for her leadership as we expand our reach and services to older adults in the community,” said Lynn Daucher, Chair of the Board Search Committee.
Over the course of Holly Hagler’s tenure, she led the transformative transition of the organization, formerly known as SeniorServ, to become Meals on Wheels Orange County, aligning it with a nationally recognized model of senior nutrition and support. She guided the expansion of services, strengthened operations, expanded partnerships, and increased resources to better serve the aging population. Today, Meals on Wheels Orange County is recognized nationally as a valued partner in expanding senior services.
“Meals on Wheels Orange County has increased its impact under Holly’s leadership,” said Platt. “We have expanded services for at-risk seniors through medically-tailored meals and culturally-diverse menus, enhanced our focus on social isolation, and forged innovative collaborations with health care and affordable housing partners to provide care coordination and enhanced care management services. We have ensured thousands of older adults in our community can continue to live in their homes and age with wellness, purpose and dignity. We are grateful for Holly’s many years of dedication to the older adults we serve and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”
Holly Hagler will remain in an advisory role through June 30, 2026, to support a smooth leadership transition. “It has been a great honor to lead Meals on Wheels Orange County in service to older adults in the community, providing more than 20 million meals for at-risk older adults during my tenure. I am grateful for the unparalleled support of our Board, funders, partners, volunteers and staff that has amplified our impact,” said Hagler, outgoing CEO of Meals on Wheels Orange County. “Our Board has made an outstanding decision by selecting Madelynn Hirneise as our next CEO, and I look forward to supporting the upcoming leadership transition.”
Meals on Wheels Orange County will continue advancing innovative programs that support the wellness, purpose, and dignity of older adults throughout the community. Through services including nutritious meal preparation and delivery, social engagement opportunities, and supportive programs and care that help seniors remain safe in their homes, the organization is addressing the growing needs of Orange County’s aging population. With the community’s continued partnership, Meals on Wheels Orange County will ensure seniors have access to reliable nutrition and meaningful human connection when they need it most.
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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS ORANGE COUNTY
Meals on Wheels Orange County is one of California’s largest safety-net nonprofits providing social, nutrition and health services to older adults. The organization delivers a million meals annually to at-risk older adults in Orange County, including multi-cultural and medically-tailored menus as part of its Food as Equity emphasis. Meals on Wheels Orange County also provides services such as Adult Day Health Care, Enhanced Care Management, Friendly Visitors, and other care services designed to help older adults remain safe in their homes and the communities they love. Funding for these programs is provided in part by the California Department of Aging, administered by the Orange County Office on Aging, in addition to municipalities, health care, and the generous support of the community.
The nonprofit holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar/Candid and has a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator. For more information on programs and services, or to request meals and other services, visit www.mealsonwheelsoc.org.
