As Co-Chairs of Hunger Free America’s Board of Directors, we are excited to share with you that today is a landmark day for the organization and the entire anti-hunger movement—our CEO, Joel Berg is celebrating his 20th anniversary as head of HFA.

Joel came to Hunger Free America, then known as the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, after working as a top official at USDA, and has transformed a small local organization into a national nonprofit with dynamic programs that is working every day to end domestic hunger. Joel is well known nationally as the country’s most dedicated, well-versed and persuasive anti-hunger advocate. We are honored that he continues to use his talents and passion serving at the helm of Hunger Free America. 

While all of his twenty years of accomplishments will never fit into a single email, here are a just few notable ones:

• Joel launched a national AmeriCorps VISTA program with more than 500 members serving over the last 10 years with anti-hunger organizations across the country.
• He implemented ground-breaking, influential programs to get more families enrolled to receive vital federal food benefits (SNAP and WIC).
• Joel spearheaded HFA’s Strategic Volunteerism Initiative, transforming anti-hunger volunteerism into a skills-based model with volunteer partners nationwide.
• He successfully proposed and advocated for policies that are now central to anti-hunger work, including universal free school meals, in-classroom breakfasts for students, and online SNAP applications and ordering.
• Joel effectively advocated the Biden Administration and Congress to expand safety net programs during the pandemic, reducing hunger and cutting child poverty in half. 

Joel always tells us that his greatest wish is to have to find a new line of work because he has been successful in ending hunger in America. Unfortunately, he can’t pack up his desk just yet – there is urgent work that needs to be done to help families struggling to put food on the table, particularly as a result of COVID.

And after 20 years, Joel is still out there fighting for Americans. This summer, Joel is driving 8,000 miles around the country to highlight the continued need for long-term, public policy solutions to hunger, while meeting with those struggling with food insecurity to bring their voices to the forefront of this movement. 

In honor of Joel’s 20 year anniversary at HFA, we are asking our supporters to pitch in to help him achieve his dream of ending hunger in America. If you are able, please contribute today. 

We continue to be inspired by Joel’s service and leadership and we know that the only way we can truly end hunger entirely is by working together, with all of you. Thank you for being with us on this journey. 
 

With Gratitude,
Cassandra Agredo & Julia Duncan
Co-Chairs, Hunger Free America Board of Directors