Harry Chapin Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida, is pleased to announce Stuart I.R. Haniff, MHA, has been named the organization’s chief development officer. In this role, Haniff will lead strategic fundraising efforts in the food bank’s mission to end hunger in Southwest Florida.
A nationally recognized voice for the anti-hunger movement, Haniff has more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership. He most recently served as vice president of philanthropy at Feeding South Florida, the fifth largest food bank in the Feeding America Network. In that role, he spearheaded initiatives that increased the number of individuals served to more than 1 million people.
Prior to that, Haniff served as the chief executive officer at The Food Bank of The Rio Grande Valley, one of the largest food banks in Texas. In that position, Haniff successfully navigated the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, a direct hit from Hurricane Hanna and the worst winter freeze in over 100 years.
“I am thrilled to join the team at Harry Chapin Food Bank,” said Haniff. “My goal is to do more than simply feed people. Hunger is big, but the compassion, commitment and contributions of our community are bigger. I believe it’s our responsibility to help our vulnerable neighbors who face the anxiety and uncertainty of not knowing where their next meal is coming from.”
Haniff began his career in food banking as the chief philanthropy office for Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino in California in 2015. In 2016, he completed Feeding America’s Advocacy Academy, lobbying on Capitol Hill on behalf of child hunger and food insecurity in the Inland Empire. He has also served as an ambassador for Feeding America’s National Hunger Action Month Committee and has robust experience in the fields of advocacy and community engagement through his involvement with Feeding America.
Haniff has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and master of health administration from the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif.
“I am pleased to welcome Stuart to the Harry Chapin Food Bank team,” said Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Stuart has proven time and time again that he is a dedicated food banker and I am confident he will be a valuable asset in our mission to end hunger in Southwest Florida.”
About Harry Chapin Food Bank
Harry Chapin Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida. The food bank rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to children, families, and seniors who are hungry through a series of food distribution programs that feed more than a quarter of a million people each month throughout Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Glades, and Lee counties.
Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed $61.5 million worth of food in fiscal year 2022. Through our food distribution programs, we supplied 34.7 million pounds of food and other grocery items, including 12 million pounds of fresh produce. The food is the equivalent of 29 million meals distributed to those who are hungry.
Our membership with Feeding America enables us to amplify our food and distribution efforts and bring in food from various retail and grocery stores, national food producers and distributors, and growers locally, nationally, and even internationally.
Harry Chapin Food Bank is proud to be named a Blueprint Partner by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Harry Chapin Food Bank is also a United Way partner agency. For more information or to make a gift, call 239.334.7007 or visit harrychapinfoodbank.org.
