Food for the Hungry

Evolution of FH's work

When Larry Ward founded FH, it was the result of his hurting heart for the 12,000 children who were then dying of hunger related causes.^[5] The predominant relief theory of the day was that poverty was caused by a lack of resources, so providing resources was the solution.^[6]

Ward left his position as executive vice president and overseas director at World Vision in 1970^[7] and headed out to help impoverished people by taking to Haiti resources he had purchased with his personal credit card.^[5]

FH's first official response was to help returnees of war in the newly forming nation of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) in 1971. The focus on relief operations continued into the late 1970s, although many of those countries became areas where FH helped the people recover through long-term development projects.

Disaster Responses that became Development Areas in 1970s

Beginning in 1978, FH began to more intentionally increase its development work. This is when FH first began working in countries without first responding to a humanitarian disaster, through its child sponsorship program. The child sponsorship^[1] program was launched in 1978 in Bolivia, Guatemala and Philippines. Additional fields that were added in the 1980s included Peru, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda.

Growth of Development Areas in the 1980s

Throughout the early 1990s, a greater emphasis on the community began to emerge as the focus for development. At the same time, conflicts such as terrorism, genocide and communist rebel activity were on the rise. FH developed a concise set of development principles focused on transforming communities by working closely with the churches, leaders and families. Over time, new and existing areas of operation would increasingly focus on addressing the whole of the community as an essential approach to serving the most vulnerable. Several fields of operation were added in the 1990s under this principle.

Growth of FH Relief and Development Areas in the early 1990s

The first ten years of the 21st century would prove to be challenging yet provide new opportunities to adapt to developing global realities. Challenges came through several major emergencies that were added to the ongoing issues of hunger, poverty, HIV/AIDS and war.^[8]

New Development Areas in the 2000s

Beginning in 1997 FH began implementing the innovative model of Cascade Groups into their developmental structure and programming. They have since been considered a leader and expert in the facilitation of these groups through their diligence and successful execution.

Cascade Groups uses of the idea of social networking to work in communities. Within this model, groups of 10-15 community-based volunteers educate their neighbors about health issues. The volunteer educators regularly meet together with FH staff for training and supervision. Each of the volunteers meets regularly with 10-15 of her neighbors to share what she has learned and to facilitate behavior change at the household level. This not only creates a multiplying effect, but it also provides the structure for a community health information system that reports on new pregnancies, births and deaths.

Since the Cascade Group model was first pioneered, it has been used by 20 (and counting) other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in more than 20 countries, largely through the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development. In particular, the USAID Child Survival and Health Grants Program and the USAID Food for Peace (Title II Food Security) Program have helped to fund programs using the Cascade Group model.^[9]

Implementation of Child-focused Community Transformation (CFCT) in the 2010s

FH developed the concept of CFCT between 2005 and 2011 and officially launched CFCT as a unified model for community transformation with child-focused outcomes at the center of field implementation and the organization's strategic plan. Since September 2011, CFCT has formed the base of all Food for the Hungry program models. A core component of Food for the Hungry's mission is to "focus on the most vulnerable," with children believed to be the most prominent and vulnerable members of the communities Food for the Hungry serves. Child-focused does not mean that all development activity is centered solely on children, since children are supported and cared for by their families and community leaders. Therefore, the majority of CFCT activities are focused on strengthening families, the church, and community leaders. "Transformation" encompasses the process of radical change in behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and worldviews of individuals, communities, and cultures toward living in healthy relationship with God, others, themselves, and creation (Four Key Relationships).^[10] The term "transformational development" refers to the work that Food for the Hungry staff and community members do to achieve mutual transformation and advance and accelerate measurable well-being improvements for the most vulnerable.

Organizational Structure

Food for the Hungry, Inc. (FH/US) was incorporated by Larry Ward in the United States in 1971 and has existed continuously since then. Ward incorporated Food for the Hungry International (FHI) in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1980. FHI was part of Ward's dream to implement unified relief and development programs worldwide through an international partnership of supporting national organizations (NOs) or affiliates.

FH/US became a supporting NO for FHI, along with like NOs in Japan (established in 1981), Canada (established in 1988), Sweden (established in 1988), Switzerland (established in 1988), Korea (established in 1989), United Kingdom (established in 1989) and a second organization in the United States, Korea-American Food for the Hungry International (established in 2002).^[8]

In 2006, FH restructured to align operations with NOs in Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States as members of FH Association (FHA), which was registered in Switzerland in November 2006.^[11] Japan and Korea aligned as Food for the Hungry International Federation (FHF) and, though loosely affiliated as members of a larger FHI "family," operate separately from FHA.^[12]

FH is the umbrella for all FHA NOs and relief and development fields. Field work occurs primarily in Asia, Africa, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.^[13] NOs support this work by raising funds, supplying human resources and helping to design and evaluate field programs.

FH is governed by a unified Board of Directors providing direct oversight of FHA and FH/US^[14] and is led by President/CEO Gary Edmonds.

The Heartbeat

In 2014, Food for the Hungry created a revised version of their "Vision, Mission, and Values" called "The Heartbeat of FH." The heartbeat is the values and principles that guide and shape the organization and is composed of values, vision, and purpose.^[20]

Values

1. We follow Jesus. We are ambassadors of Jesus in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
2. Our work is relational. We pursue reconciled relationships of grace with those with whom we work, partner, and serve.
3. We invest wisely and focus on results. We are stewards in God's kingdom and strive to invest all resources to maximize missional impact.
4. We serve with humility. We recognize the dignity of others and put their interests above our own.
5. We pursue beauty, goodness, and truth. We pursue beauty, goodness, and truth.

Vision

All forms of human poverty ended worldwide.

Purpose

Together we follow God's call responding to human suffering and graduating communities from extreme poverty.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

FH installed a community water pump in Kamalenge. The community uses the water pump for farming and personal use. Since installation, the water management committee in Kamalenge has managed the water pump. FH also helped families in Kateba learn about health and nutrition through songs and flipcharts. Villages that FH was able to work in are now free of malnutrition. FH also helped to build a seed multiplication station in Emilingombre so farmers would have more direct access to seeds and seedlings.^[21]

Haiti and the Dominican Republic

In 2012, when Hurricane Isaac (2012) hit Haiti and the Dominican Republic, FH staff helped families who lost homes, animals and crops.^[22]

Ethiopia

Among several other countries, Food for the Hungry offers child sponsorships to children in Ethiopia. Sponsoring children in Ethiopia provides children with food, medical care, and education.^[23] By 2011, FH reached approximately 84,652 households in Ethiopia. In addition to their work with families, FH helped 180,456 farmers improve access to markets due to road construction and maintenance.^[24]

Republic of Mozambique

Food for the Hungry worked in Mozambique to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality – especially among children 0–23 months of age and pregnant women.^[25] By 2010, FH helped develop 182 Farmer Field and Life Groups in Mozambique with 3,276 people receiving services. Their efforts have helped impact approximately 111,000 people.^[24] FH's Mozambique Child Survival Project was called one of the world's best examples of what can be achieved at low cost to improve the health of children in high-mortality, low-resource settings.^[26]

Controversy

In 2012, Food for the Hungry was one of hundreds of non-profits chosen by the IRS for a routine audit of their tax return for 2007. They cooperated fully with the IRS. A preliminary letter listed several issues that IRS wanted to clarify. That letter was illegally leaked to the media, launching a media controversy over unconfirmed facts.^[28] In March 2014, Food for the Hungry received a letter from the IRS. The letter accepted the tax return as originally submitted, and acknowledged that Food for the Hungry had followed all laws and accepted accounting practices.^[29]

As charter members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Food for the Hungry are in compliance with their Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship. In addition, the organization has received GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency, which is the highest level of recognition offered by Guidestar to non-profits and charities.

There are no outstanding issues concerning Food for the Hungry's involvement in issues with the IRS.

Sports Initiatives

In the 2010s, Food for the Hungry began partnering with several Major League Baseball players and cultural icons. This culminated in the creation of two sports campaigns, Striking Out Poverty in 2016, which partners with players in the MLB, and FH Champions in 2017, which focuses on partnerships with players in the NFL. Striking Out Poverty (also known as "K Poverty" or "SOP") began with a focus on ending poverty in nine communities in the Dominican Republic, where baseball is the national sport and more than 500 baseball players in the MLB hail from the Dominican Republic. Food for the Hungry's Global Ambassador is Roberto Clemente Jr., a former pro baseball player and son of Roberto Clemente, the first Latin American player to compile 3,000 hits in Major League Baseball history.^[33] Other athletes who have participated in Striking Out Poverty campaigns and vision trips include Nick Ahmed, Chase Anderson, Dee Gordon, Yasmani Grandal, Liam Hendriks, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Rob Refsnyder, Moisés Sierra, Adam Wainwright, and Luke Weaver. NFL athletes who have worked with Food for the Hungry formerly as "Pro Player Partners" or as part of Champions by FH include Jarvis Jenkins, Jonathan Meeks, Derrick Morgan, Coty Sensabaugh, and Michael Thomas.

Artists and Influencers

Food for the Hungry also partners with Christian artists and influencers including TobyMac, Lecrae, Switchfoot, Third Day and more as part of its Artists Program to promote Food for the Hungry at their concerts and events around the country. Each artists sponsors his or her own child with Food for the Hungry as part of their shared God-given mission with FH to end extreme poverty.