September 19, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
Age at death: 69
Career in philanthropy: In the mid-1990s, while president of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Bob Forney did volunteer work for a Chicago food bank. Inspired by that experience, he became chief executive of what is now called Feeding America, the largest U.S. anti-hunger charity. Then, in 2006, he founded and led the Global FoodBanking Network, a Chicago group that now fights hunger in 30 countries.
How he made his mark: Mr. Forney used his business skills to organize food banks into a national and then international force for good. He did this by forging connections among large food banks and, according to Chris Rebstock, interim president of the Global FoodBanking Network, “by communicating to many others, including donors and government officials, a shared vision of a nation and a world without hunger. He was forever the great optimist, the ultimate deal maker, the Johnny Appleseed who gave everyone an important role to play.”
Key accomplishments: While with the Global FoodBanking Network, Mr. Forney expanded food banks in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Also, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and with the help of food banks from across the nation and $30-million he helped raise, he quickly assembled an enormous food depot inside an empty Wal-Mart near Baton Rouge.
How he will be remembered: “Most people never knew who he was, but they ate because of what he did,” said Brian Greene, former chief executive of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans. “He affected the lives of millions.”
