Dear Friends of Martha’s Table,
On behalf of the board of directors I am so pleased to share with you today the attached press release announcing the appointment of Patty Stonesifer as Martha’s Table’s new President and CEO.   Patty spent 10 years as the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and most recently, she served as the Chair of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents. We are so excited to welcome Patty to Martha’s Table and look forward to her leadership. I know you will join me in welcoming her.

Sincerely,

Cathy Sulzberger, Chair Board of Directors

PATTY STONESIFER NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MARTHA’S TABLE

Stonesifer is the former head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chair of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian and was a senior leader at Microsoft

(Washington, D.C.—January 30, 2013) The board of Martha’s Table announced today that Patty Stonesifer has been chosen as its next President and CEO.   Martha’s Table is a Washington, DC, non-profit organization that transforms lives by engaging the community in developing sustainable solutions to poverty.

 “Patty brings unprecedented potential to Martha’s Table which is critical because the organization has never been more needed by the community,” said board chair, Cathy Sulzberger.  “Patty has a demonstrated commitment to service, experience tackling complicated issues, and the ability to engage the community in creative problem solving.”

“I look forward to getting to work – and we have a lot to do.  One in three children in the District experiences hunger, and the past few years have left many families with great instability,” said Stonesifer.  “Martha’s Table is working to make sure our community’s children and families have access to the basics - food, clothing and education.  The amazing network of staff, volunteers, donors, and  partners are absolutely phenomenal; and together, we can make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors and our city’s children.”

Patty Stonesifer will begin her work as the President of Martha’s Table on April 1, 2013.  Previously, She was appointed in 2010 by President Obama to serve as the Chair of the White House Council for Community Solutions.   In 2012, she completed her term as the Chair of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents.  In the ten years prior, she was the founding CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Stonesifer spent two decades working in technology, with her final role as Senior Vice President at Microsoft Corporation.  Stonesifer also advises and serves on the boards of numerous non-profits, cultural institutions and corporations, including the Smithsonian Board of Regents, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Center for Global Development, and Amazon.com.  She also serves on the Executive Committee of RaiseDC.  For Patty Stonesifer’s complete biography see: http://www.marthastable.org/patty_stonesifer.html.

Please read more on this exciting announcement in the Washington Post online here and in print on Wednesday, January 30th.

Established in 1980, Martha’s Table helps more than 1,100 people a day by addressing community needs and finding solutions to poverty in the short and long term.  We meet the core needs of clients through food and clothing programs and break the cycle of poverty with education and family support services.  For more information, please visit www.marthastable.org.

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