The Capital Area Food Bank recently welcomed its capital campaign donors and board members to a thank you dinner hosted at its new Bedford Falls Foundation Distribution Center. The new 123,000 square foot facility is named after Mr. and Mrs. William E. Conway Jr.’s Bedford Falls Foundation, whose $5 million foundation grant concluded the campaign in late 2010 and enabled the food bank to begin construction early the following year.
Attending the dinner in addition to the Conways were major supporter and campaign co-chair Donald E. Graham and other significant donors who mingled with CAFB board members and staff over cocktails, dinner and delectable desserts, all generously donated by Harris Teeter. During the reception, Mayor Vincent Gray greeted and welcomed guests who were treated to music provided by the Ricky Payton Band.
Greg Ten Eyck, CAFB Board Chairman, presented opening remarks for the dinner program while Graham applauded the work of President and CEO Lynn Brantley. The Conways ended the program by announcing an unexpected $1 million gift to the food bank towards fresh produce. Last year, the Conways donated $1 million to the food bank’s Fresh Produce Campaign as well.
The capital campaign was initiated five years ago in response to the growing hunger crisis in the Washington metro area. In addition to Graham, three other campaign co-chairs were J.W. Marriott Jr., the late Abe Pollin and Bennett Zier.
The Bedford Falls Foundation Distribution Center is located at 4900 Puerto Rico Ave. NE Washington, just a short walk from its former location. Over time, the food bank expects to be able to double its capacity to store and distribute food to the nearly 700,000 people in the region struggling with hunger.
The Capital Area Food Bank is grateful for the support of its capital campaign donors who helped make its new home a reality.