Claire Babineaux-Fontenot will transition out of her role as Feeding America’s chief executive officer next year after nearly a decade of service at the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Babineaux-Fontenot has led the organization with exceptional passion, purpose, and vision. Under her guidance, Feeding America has expanded its reach, galvanized national attention on food insecurity and the systemic issues that drive it, and deepened its commitment to center people experiencing hunger and seek guidance from their expertise.
Key among the organization’s accomplishments during her tenure were providing six billion meals during the height of the pandemic, unifying the Feeding America network of more than 200 food banks, 22 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 agency partners, food pantries and meal programs under a transformative contract, and developing the first of its kind strategic framework for a national federated network which included input from all aspects of food banking, including thousands of people facing hunger. Under Claire’s leadership, Feeding America more than doubled its food distribution and mobilized new resources to serve tens of millions of people facing hunger in every community in the country.
“The greatest honor of my professional life has been to serve as CEO of Feeding America,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. “Of all our accomplishments together, I am most proud of the ways that we have centered people experiencing hunger, and I am truly hopeful for the future, not only for the network but for the nation. While I have been here, I have witnessed profound moments of unity despite all the things that might serve to divide us. And I am deeply grateful that I am reminded of the power of the things that serve to unite us every day.”
Claire’s legacy includes the launch of Feeding America's first-ever neighbor-centered research, Elevating Voices: Insights Report to ensure that data-driven insights from people experiencing food insecurity continue to be a key contribution to strategy. She played an instrumental role in building strong, innovative partnerships across sectors, investing deeply in local infrastructure and community-led solutions, and strengthening the country’s largest and most diverse network of hunger relief organizations that, together, touch every corner of the country.
“Of course, I was sad when Claire shared her wishes to retire with me a couple years ago,” said Shawn O’Grady, Board Chair of Feeding America, “but I was also grateful for the extra time to prepare and be thoughtful about this important transition for our organization, our network and those we serve. While we foremost recognize the continued challenges of those experiencing food insecurity, we are also confident that we are well-positioned with strategic clarity that will take us into the next decade. We have Claire, her team and our broader network members to thank for that. Her vision, compassion, and tireless advocacy has ushered in meaningful change to the national awareness and conversation about hunger. She is an extraordinary leader whose impact will resonate well into the future.”
The Feeding America National Board of Directors is launching a comprehensive search for a new CEO. Claire will continue to serve in her role to support a smooth and thoughtful transition.
Feeding America is deeply committed to its mission of advancing a hunger-free America. Having just launched a five-year strategy, the organization will continue its neighbor-informed path, addressing food insecurity and its root causes, driven by dignity and collaboration, to ensure that everyone has the food they need to thrive.
To learn more, please watch Claire's video announcement.
For more information on Feeding America, please visit www.feedingamerica.org.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.