Northern Illinois Food Bank Announces New CEO, Pete Schaefer

Plans to Respond to Growing Hunger Need

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Feb 14, 2011, 07:52 ET

ST. CHARLES, Ill., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) announced the appointment of Pete Schaefer as President & CEO. Schaefer is a former McDonald's executive, attorney, and global business leader, and will assume responsibility for leading the Food Bank and advancing its mission of serving hungry neighbors throughout thirteen counties in Illinois.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110214/CG47210 )

"I'm humbled and excited about the opportunity to help the thousands of families facing hunger in our communities," said Schaefer. "The need to help is great and growing."

The Hunger in America 2010 study conducted by Feeding America in cooperation with Northern Illinois Food Bank estimates that over 40% of the hungry people in northern Illinois are children. The current economic situation has made an existing problem worse with 35% more people seeking food assistance compared to just two years ago.

"Northern Illinois Food Bank serves over 60,000 people each week, and we are creating the capacity to help even more people," said Schaefer. "Every dollar donated makes a significant impact. $100 will serve a family of four three meals per day for nearly two months!"

Schaefer joins Northern Illinois Food Bank after serving six years on the Board of Directors for the Greater Chicago Food Depository and five years on the Board of Directors for Northern Illinois Food Bank. He was Corporate Vice President at McDonald's Corporation from 2001 - 2009, responsible for the company's product safety work, social accountability supply chain efforts, and global security. Schaefer was managing counsel for McDonald's Corporation prior, totaling a sixteen-year stint for the company. Schaefer worked as an attorney for Travelers Insurance Co. and was in private practice as well.

Schaefer replaces H. Dennis Smith, who will retire March 31 after serving NIFB for over twelve years. In the years that Smith has guided the Food Bank it has increased the amount of food it distributes from 7 to 35 million pounds annually. "I'm proud of our progress and strong foundation, and I'm confident in Pete and the team's ability to grow NIFB and help even more people," said Smith.

About Northern Illinois Food Bank

Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) is a non-for-profit Corporation that provides food to all those in need through its 665 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth activity centers and other food assistance sites in thirteen counties: Boone, DuPage, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. NIFB handles and distributes donated, government, and purchased food to more than 61,600 different people each week. In FY 2010 NIFB distributed over 35 million pounds of food and was named the 2010 Food Bank of the Year by Feeding America. NIFB is building a new Food Distribution and Community Nutrition Center to enable them to handle more food more efficiently to meet the increasing demand.

For more information contact: Jarrod Daab [email protected] Northern Illinois Food Bank (Work) 630-443-6910, ext.136 (Cell) 630-290-2364 Julie Schaefer (Cell) 312-399-7614