Amy Franze Named Chief Philanthropy Officer of Feeding America

CHICAGO, July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amy Franze has been named Chief Philanthropy Officer of Feeding America, the charity announced today.

Feeding America is the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. It provides 3 billion tons food and grocery products annually to more than 37 million low-income Americans who live at risk of hunger.

Franze is a 20-year veteran of the sales, marketing and nonprofit fundraising fields. She has managed major gifts and planned giving programs, corporate relations, cause marketing promotions and capital campaigns. She will join Feeding America on July 6.

"We are very excited that Amy will be joining our philanthropy team," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "Feeding America faces enormous challenges in our current efforts to provide food to nearly 6 million people each week. While we have succeeded in leveraging significantly increased donations of food and funds in recent years, more is needed. We look forward to the expertise, experience and wisdom that Amy will bring to Feeding America."

Most recently, Amy served as Executive Vice President of Development for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), one of the world's largest organizations dedicated to funding research for a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.  At JDRF, Amy was responsible for annual revenue of $150 million. She joined JDRF in 2002 as the Executive Director of the Illinois Chapter, where she led the launch of the chapter's $100 million capital campaign, "Research to Reality." 

Ms. Franze has received several awards for her work in producing outstanding results in both the corporate and non-profit communities, including the JDRF "Staff Member of the Year" award in 2006.  She volunteers for several local charities in Chicago, serves on the Board of Community Health Charities of Illinois, and is a member of the Economics Club of Chicago.

Ms. Franze has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Gerontology from Slippery Rock University and a Certificate of Management from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.  Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

SOURCE Feeding America