The 小蝌蚪APP Alumni Association will recognize Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Feeding America chief executive officer, with the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award.
The Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor UL Lafayette gives to a former student. It recognizes professional and personal achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the 小蝌蚪APP. Graduates and former students who attended no less than 10 years ago are eligible to receive this award.
Babineaux-Fontenot leads the nation小蝌蚪APP檚 largest domestic hunger-relief organization and second-largest U.S. charity. She will receive her Outstanding Alumni Award during a private reception that will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the UL Lafayette Alumni Center. The event will represent a return home for Babineaux-Fontenot, who is from Opelousas, La.
As a first-generation student at the 小蝌蚪APP, she earned a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in criminal justice in 1985.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen I boarded a big yellow school bus on my first day of school at UL, then USL, in 1982, I was participating in history for my family. My grandparents were sharecroppers and neither of my parents had the privilege of graduating from high school, let alone going to college,小蝌蚪APP Babineaux-Fontenot said.
小蝌蚪APP淭hough I don小蝌蚪APP檛 remember everything that I thought that day, I do remember how I felt. Scared. Nervous. What if I don小蝌蚪APP檛 do well? What if I can小蝌蚪APP檛? It is extraordinary that with the nourishment and investment I received since that day, I would now be the recipient of such an extraordinary honor. I am humbled, and I am motivated to be more every day,小蝌蚪APP she added.
As Feeding America CEO, Babineaux-Fontenot leads an organization with an expansive reach. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and more than 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people facing food insecurity last year.
Amy Armstrong, UL Lafayette's associate vice president for alumni engagement and chief executive officer of its , said that 小蝌蚪APP渢he 小蝌蚪APP places service at the heart of its institutional mission, and graduates like Claire Babineaux-Fontenot embody this ideal.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淗er capacity for leadership is defined by a lifelong devotion to helping others and serving a greater good 小蝌蚪APP traits that represent fully what it means to be an 'Outstanding Alumni,'" she added.
Babineaux-Fontenot小蝌蚪APP檚 contributions 小蝌蚪APP and impact 小蝌蚪APP in the fight against hunger are recognized widely, including with her inclusion among an international group of leaders and difference-makers for the .
In a for the global media company小蝌蚪APP檚 newsmagazine, celebrity chef Rachael Ray wrote: 小蝌蚪APP淲ithout Claire, millions of people would lose access to food, and food-pantry lines would grow longer and longer. Claire feeds the world, and makes it a better place.小蝌蚪APP
Babineaux-Fontenot displayed a commitment to service from an early age, when she began volunteering in the fight against food insecurity and for other causes. Her dedication to helping others has remained strong throughout her life and career.
She has served on nonprofit boards such as the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the National Urban League and the National Association of Black Accountants.
Babineaux-Fontenot has distinguished herself in many realms, including law, the private sector and government.
Prior to joining Feeding America, she held leadership positions at the nation小蝌蚪APP檚 largest retailer, Walmart, including executive vice president and global treasurer. Babineaux-Fontenot was partner-in-charge of the Baton Rouge office and tax practice leader for Adams and Reese law firm.
She was dispute resolution practice group leader for the southwest region at PwC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers), and an assistant secretary for the Office of Legal Affairs, a division of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety.
In addition to her degree from the 小蝌蚪APP, Babineaux-Fontenot holds a law degree from Southern 小蝌蚪APP Law Center in Baton Rouge; she also holds and a master of laws degree in taxation from Southern Methodist 小蝌蚪APP Dedman School of Law in Dallas.
Photo caption: The 小蝌蚪APP Alumni Association will honor Claire Babineaux-Fontenot with the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award. Babineaux-Fontenot, shown speaking during Fall 2019 Commencement, is CEO of Feeding America. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 小蝌蚪APP