Hunger Organization Selects Executive Director
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowChristina Smith has been named the first executive director of Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana. She has served in fundraising roles for Purdue University, Grace College and Fort Wayne-based Questa Foundation for Education. February 6, 2014
News Release
CARMEL, Ind. – The Board of Directors of Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana announced today the appointment of Christina K. Smith as executive director.
A Middle East and Central Asian foreign policy expert and humanitarian leader, Smith is recognized for her expertise in the social and political rehabilitation of highly traumatized societies. Over the last two decades, she has consulted with four presidential administrations and Muslim leaders in Kuwait, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, Bosnia and Afghanistan. After September 11, 2001, she spent over six years in Afghanistan helping the Afghan people rebuild their nation’s social, political and educational infrastructure. Currently, she is involved in peace building efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and continues to consult on humanitarian initiatives in Afghanistan.
After Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, she spent four years documenting Iraqi war crimes that led subsequently to Saddam Hussein's conviction and execution before an international court of justice.
A tireless and passionate advocate for the vulnerable, Smith is an accomplished fundraiser who has garnered over $500 million in private and public philanthropic support to advance education, literacy, health care and civil society initiatives in nine war-torn nations.
Smith brings to Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana over 20 years of non-profit leadership experience with educational, advocacy and public policy organizations. As its first executive director, she is responsible for leading the organization in strategy, program development and evaluation, community outreach, international partner engagement, fundraising and operations.
In making today's announcement, Dan Hintz, founder and chairman of the board, commented:
“Christina brings an impressive level of leadership skills and international humanitarian experience to Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana. Equally impressive, however, is her deep personal commitment to serve the suffering and care for the vulnerable. The board is delighted to have a leader of her caliber join our organization as we look to significantly expand Kids Against Hunger's regional, national and international impact in service to the hungry at home and the starving abroad.”
Smith added, “I am immensely grateful for this remarkable opportunity to join a highly dedicated board, a gifted staff and impressive team of volunteers to significantly expand the scope and reach of Kids Against Hunger's impact in Central Indiana and around the globe as we endeavor to eradicate hunger among Hoosiers and feed the starving in the most difficult places in our world.”
A proud Hoosier and Fort Wayne native, Smith is a graduate of Huntington University and the University of Virginia. Most recently, she served in leadership and fundraising roles for Purdue University, Grace College and as executive director of Questa Foundation for Education in Fort Wayne. Smith began her official duties on February 3.
About Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana (KAHCI)
Founded in 2007, Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana's mission is to feed the hungry at home and the starving aboard while encouraging the spirit of volunteerism within communities. As one of the largest of 100 affiliates of Kids Against Hunger, Inc., KAHCI has engaged over 100,000 Hoosier volunteers, representing children, youth, families, businesses, faith communities and civic organizations, who have packaged more than 7 million highly nutritious meals to feed the hungry in central Indiana and the starving abroad. In addition to numerous meal packing events across central Indiana each month, Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana also sponsors the Million Meal Marathon each fall at Lucas Oil Stadium engaging thousands of volunteers across central Indiana. For more information, contact Christina Smith, executive director, at Christina@kidsagainsthunger.net, call 317.843.9353 or visit www.kidsagainsthunger.net.
Source: Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana