The Food Bank For New York City Appoints Margarette Purvis as President and Chief Executive Officer

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Aug 18, 2011) - The Food Bank For New York City, the area's major hunger-relief organization, has appointed Margarette Purvis its new president and chief executive officer. Ms. Purvis, who served as vice president of programs and services at the Food Bank from 2001 to 2006, will return to lead the organization, effective October 1, 2011. Ms. Purvis succeeds Dr. Lucy Cabrera, whose retirement after more than two decades as head of the organization was announced in January.

"Margarette is an accomplished and respected leader with a long track record of successfully advocating for the impoverished and underserved both nationally and in New York City," said Rev. Henry Belin, chairman of the Food Bank Board of Directors. "After an extensive search, the Board selected Margarette because of her deep knowledge and experience working within our organization, her passion for the issues, and her critical insights into ways we can move forward in tackling hunger at its root causes."

"I am honored and thrilled to rejoin the Food Bank, an organization I know and care deeply about," said Purvis. "In today's fragile economic environment, the Food Bank has consistently and successfully tackled food poverty on multiple fronts. I look forward to working closely with the Board of Directors, donors, staff, and our extensive membership network to address the very real and growing demand for hunger-related services."

"I am absolutely delighted that the Board has selected Margarette as my successor," said Dr. Lucy Cabrera, the retiring, highly respected President and CEO of the Food Bank for the last 23 years. "I know her well and I am sure she will do an excellent job." Ms. Purvis has been the chief executive officer and principal of PCG, the Purvis Consulting Group, an Atlanta-based firm she founded in 2007. PCG develops tools for emerging leaders and philanthropists and fundraising strategies for leaders of charities, businesses, faith-based organizations, and government agencies. In 2006 and 2007, Ms. Purvis was vice president of national programming at Points of Light Foundation (formerly Hands On Network), a national charity focused on training and activating volunteer leaders. She oversaw the launch and execution of large-scale programs including the National MLK Day Dream Challenges, Hurricane Disaster sites in Gulfport and New Orleans, Hands On Schools and Citizen Academy.

During her tenure at The Food Bank For New York City, Ms. Purvis led the department responsible for providing services to the organization's network of approximately 1,000 community hunger agencies. Ms. Purvis developed new programs such as 866 NYC FOOD, the Education Institute and Kids Café models, both receiving Feeding America's Hunger's Hope National Innovation awards. She was the primary designer, organizer and facilitator of two different 9/11 capacity development funds sponsored by Robin Hood and the Starr Foundation and raised foundation and corporate dollars to support various programs at the Food Bank.

Prior to joining the Food Bank For New York City, Ms. Purvis was the developer and director of Bailey House's INVEST, the country's first employment training program for People Living With HIV/AIDS. She was also a program developer at USDA's WIC program in DC and for people seeking employment and substance abuse assistance in positions with both the City of New York and the New Orleans based TEAM program.

Ms. Purvis studied Urban Studies and Public Policy at Dillard University in New Orleans and Policy Analysis and Nonprofit Management at the Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at The New School for Social Research.

The six-month search process, managed by Sandler Search Associates, LLC, attracted nearly 200 candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds including academic institutions, foundations, food banks and other hunger organizations, global health and poverty focused organizations, government and general non-profits, as well as economic development and professional services firms.

About the Food Bank For New York City
The Food Bank For New York City has for 28 years been the city's major hunger-relief organization, working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the hub for integrated food poverty assistance, the Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts -- food distribution, income support and nutrition education -- all guided by its in depth research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs such as soup kitchens and food pantries, The Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank's hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools, the largest of its kind, reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps and free tax assistance for the working poor which, through the Earned Income Tax Credit put $65 Million in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve dignity and independence.