November 11, 2016

Food & Friends Welcomes Carolyn Schmidt as Chief Development Officer

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2016

Media Contact:
Jay Shepley, Communications Director
(202) 269-6875
jshepley@foodandfriends.org

Food & Friends Welcomes Carolyn Schmidt as Chief Development Officer

Written by: Abigail Seiler

img_6250November 11, 2016--Food & Friends announced today that Carolyn Schmidt will join Food & Friends as Chief Development Officer on December 5th, 2016. Started in 1988, the nutrition services organization delivers free, medically-specialized meals and groceries to DC area residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer or other serious illnesses.

“I am very pleased to welcome Carolyn to our organization. Her broad and deep experience in development will create enormous benefit to Food & Friends,” said Craig Shniderman, Executive Director of Food & Friends.

"It is an honor to be joining Food & Friends in such an important leadership role," said Ms. Schmidt. "I'm coming from an organization that provides loving homes for children, so the mission of Food & Friends resonates. It's about caring for people who are dealing with a life threatening illness, providing them with something as basic as nutritious meals, a personal connection, and maybe even a hug. I'm excited to be part of something so meaningful."

Ms. Schmidt has over 29 years of results-driven fundraising and non-profit management experience working for international, national and regional organizations in social services, higher education and literacy. She is joining Food & Friends from SOS Children’s Villages-USA, Inc., where she oversaw major and planned giving. Before SOS, she held leadership positions as Managing Director of Development for Prevent Cancer Foundation, Director of Development for Reading Is Fundamental, and was Director of Operations for Catholic Charities Foundation of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Ms. Schmidt is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and an active member with the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She believes in cultivating a culture of philanthropy throughout an organization and is committed to fostering relationships with donors who become long-time philanthropic partners. She and her husband live in Arlington, Virginia. She has two adult children – a recent graduate of James Madison University and a student at the University of Mary Washington.

The search was conducted by Sterling Martin Associates.

ABOUT FOOD & FRIENDS: Food & Friends is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that provides home-delivered, specialized meals and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. Food & Friends’ services are free-of-charge to recipients who qualify solely based on their health status and nutritional need. Monday-Saturday, including holidays, staff and volunteers deliver to 5,300 square miles including the District of Columbia, seven counties in Maryland, and seven counties and six independent cities in Virginia. Since 1988, Food & Friends has delivered more than 20 million meals to nearly 30,000 individuals. For more information, please visit www.foodandfriends.org, Facebook (/foodandfriends), Twitter (@foodandfriends) or Instagram (@foodandfriendsdc).