Disaster Veteran Joins America?s Second Harvest As Director Of Disaster Services
December 10, 2007 --- Chicago, IL --- America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network has named Patrick Crawford the Director of Disaster Services. America’s Second Harvest is the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization.
Crawford will coordinate the efforts of the entire 205 member food bank network in the event of disaster. During its last major disaster relief effort, America’s Second Harvest raised more than $35 million in funds and delivered more than 83 million pounds of food and grocery products to the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005 and more recently has supported relief efforts resulting from wildland fires in Southern California.
“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick Crawford to our organization,” said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of America’s Second Harvest, “his expertise and relationships will enhance support of our Network’s relief efforts following disasters and will increase coordination and planning with our partners before disaster strikes .”
A seasoned emergency management professional who brings a unique blend of experiences from the public and private sectors, Crawford served in senior positions within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and more recently as the Midwest Director of James Lee Witt Associates. Crawford’s responsibilities at FEMA included managing the Agency’s $3 billion Congressional budget request and facilitating relationships with government officials at all levels.
During his 14 year career he has been involved with many of the nation’s largest natural disasters and terrorist incidents including Hurricane Katrina, the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
Crawford has a BA in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters degree in Education from Loyola College of Maryland.
America's Second Harvest was first involved with disaster relief in 1989 following Hurricane Hugo and the Loma Prieta earthquake, which struck San Francisco and the Central California Coast. Since then, The America's Second Harvest Network has taken an active role in recovery efforts following major disasters and is a member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
The Director of Disaster Services position at America’s Second Harvest is underwritten by a grant from Dunkin Brands. These partners support America’s Second Harvest’s work to prepare for and respond to disasters.
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America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
