The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, recently honored 11 individuals and organizations from their network of food distribution partners, volunteers, public officials, donors and advocates that showed extraordinary leadership and dedication to mitigating the food insecurity crisis and providing wide-ranging contributions to hunger-relief efforts across Eastern Massachusetts last year.

This year, the Founder’s Award was renamed in honor of GBFB Founder Kip Tiernan, commemorating 50 years since she began distributing food out of the back of her station wagon in 1974—an operation that would later become the wide-scale hunger-relief organization that is GBFB.

In Tiernan’s memory, GBFB works with an array of partners in its mission to end hunger for all those facing food insecurity across Eastern Massachusetts, while championing the structural solutions needed to ease this burden for future generations. In honor of her selflessness, social justice and advocacy, this award celebrates a leader carrying out GBFB’s mission in her legacy.

The 2024 Partner Appreciation Award honorees are:
Kip Tiernan Award: Diane Bevan
Leadership Award:
MFS Investment Management
President’s Choice Award: Karen Holmes Ward
In-Kind Donor of the Year: Amazon New England
Food Donor of the Year: Kayem Foods
Community Partner of the Year: Salem Pantry
Volunteer of the Year (Individual): Susan Moser
Volunteer of the Year (Institution): Brown Brothers Harriman
Public Advocates of the Year: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Public Advocate of the Year in the State Senate: State Senator Julian Cyr
Public Advocate of the Year in the House of Representatives: State Rep. Alice Peisch