Feeding America Names Hunger's Hope Winners for 2015

CHICAGO, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each year Feeding America honors network members and leaders for their distinguished contributions toward Feeding America's mission to end hunger in America.

Feeding America is a network of 200 food banks that provide food and groceries to more than five million people each week through 60,000 meal and grocery programs and other agencies that provide food assistance to low-income Americans.

The 2015 Hunger's Hope Awards were presented during Feeding America's Network Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona last week.

The Houston Food Bank was named the 2015 Member of the Year. The award is given to the year's most outstanding food bank.

The Houston Food Bank was recognized for its commitment to community engagement, increasing the number of nutritious meals distributed to clients, and continuous improvement of operational efficiency.

Pam Irvine, president and CEO of Feeding America Southwest Virginia was named Feeding America 2015 Network Leader of the Year. The Award recognizes extraordinary and exemplary leadership and service by an Executive Director/CEO in the Feeding America network.

Irvine is founder of Feeding America Southwest Virginia. She was cited for actively representing the Feeding America network values of respect, stewardship, accountability, collaboration, urgency, service, integrity and diversity. Despite limited resources and no full-time staff for policy work, Irvine has made an abiding commitment to advocacy, and was previously named the 2014 Dick Goebel Public Service Award winner by Feeding America.

Feeding America Southwest Virginia distributed 20 million pounds of food to 400 meal and grocery programs last year.

Al Brislain, executive director of the Harry Chapin Food Bank, was the recipient of the 2015 John van Hengel Fellowship.  The annual award honors the ideals of the late John van Hengel, who developed the concept of food banking in the 1960s, and recognizes an executive director of a member food bank for his or her excellence in leadership, local impact and national influence, and commitment and entrepreneurial spirit in the area of hunger relief.

Brislain has worked in food banking for 40 years. During the presentation of his award, it was said, "He will not accept that anyone should go hungry, but he is also dedicated to making sure we do it right.  Al has helped the food bank movement grow and mature as we needed to step up." 

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contact:
Ross Fraser
312.641.6422

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SOURCE Feeding America

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