FRANCISCO R. VÉLEZ NAMED CEO OF FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA
SOUTH FLORIDA, FL. – Maria Millares, president of the Board of Directors of Feeding South Florida, is pleased to announce that Francisco (Paco) R. Vélez has been named CEO of Feeding South Florida. Vélez will assume the position of CEO in mid-April.
Vélez joins Feeding South Florida from the San Antonio Food Bank in San Antonio , Texas , one of the leading food banks in the Feeding America network, where he worked for 12 years. There, he served as executive vice president of programs and initiatives from 2010-2012, and director of services from 2000-2010. Also, from 2010-2012, Vélez served as a consultant to the Treasure Coast Food Bank in Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie, Fla. in regards to proposals, budgets, warehouse operations and program creation and innovation.
As CEO of Feeding South Florida, Vélez is responsible for the overall administration, management, and leadership of Feeding South Florida in pursuit of its mission, goals, and objectives. This includes fiscal accountability, personnel management, resource development (food and funds), operations management, public relations, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, grant requirements, policies and procedures. He is responsible for the creation and nurturing of new ideas and initiatives that advance the goals of Feeding South Florida, and maintaining the financial health and integrity of the organization.
Vélez’s responsibilities at the San Antonio Food Bank included overseeing six divisions responsible for alloutreach programs and initiatives of the food bank. He was responsible for managing the distribution of 45 million pounds of food a year through more than 530 partner organizations to help set the table for more than 58,000 individuals a week.
Vélez holds a Certification in Non-Profit Management from the University of Texas in San Antonio , Texas and a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in anthropology from Baylor University in Waco , Texas .
He is a member of the American Commodity Distribution Association, and a Board member of the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) and Holy Spirit Catholic Church Homeless and Hunger Ministry. Vélez is also a Leadership San Antonio graduate of the The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce/San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“We are very excited that Mr. Vélez will be joining our team as CEO,” said Millares. “With his extensive experience in food banking and as a strong leader in the group that made the San Antonio Food Bank one of the leading food banks in the Feeding America network, he will serve as an excellent leader for Feeding South Florida.”
“I am honored to have been appointed CEO for Feeding South Florida,” said Vélez. “I look forward to bringing my experience, leadership skills and passion for fighting hunger to Feeding South Florida, and helping to improve the lives of the over 936,000individuals who are food insecure in South Florida.”
ABOUT FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA
Feeding South Florida™(formerly Daily Bread Food Bank) is a not-for-profit organization that empowers other South Florida not-for-profit organizations to assist people in need and improve their lives. Feeding South Florida does this by providing food and other grocery products, and by educating and engaging the community to fight hunger and poverty. Through a local network of nearly 600 other not-for-profit organizations, Feeding South Florida strives to serve over 936,000 individuals in need, including more than 200,000 children who are food insecure, the elderly, the mentally and physically challenged, veterans and the working poor, in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties with compassion and integrity. Feeding South Florida , one of the largest food banks in the state, is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. In 2011, Feeding South Florida distributed over 30 million pounds of food valued at almost $50 million within the South Florida community. Feeding South Florida’s headquarters is located at 2501 SW 32 Terrace, Pembroke Park , FL , 33023 . For more information, please call (954) 518-1818 or visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org.
