There are just some posts that one dreads writing. This is one of them. It is with the greatest sorrow to report that the North Texas Food Bank’s former President/CEO Jan Pruitt died today.
It was just a month ago after battling cancer for more than a year that she and her doctors decided that her time would be best spent with her family and she “stepped down from her position at NTFB.”
As NTFB Director of Communications Anna Kurian said, “I was comforted knowing that she spent Christmas and New Year’s Day with her family. I am sitting in our offices, looking at her office and missing her very much.”
In the days ahead much will be written about Jan’s leadership at NTFB and how she took it on 20 years ago and grew the organization that feeds thousands upon thousands each year. But it will be difficult to describe the zest she had. There was just a twinkle in her eye and a down-to-business attitude that inspired all around her to roll up their sleeves and help faceless and nameless people.
During her months of illness, she continued to juggle her families at home and at NTFB with her treatments. But then that’s how Jan was. And that’s the inspiration she has provided for those who knew her and those who benefited from her efforts.
According to NTFB Board Chair Tom Black,
“Jan was a one-of-a-kind leader whose spirit and passion for feeding our hungry neighbors will continue to live in each of us as we fulfill her extraordinary legacy through the mission of the Food Bank.
“I knew Jan well, and I know that she would want us to forge ahead to close the hunger gap in the 13 counties that the Food Bank serves. To that end and as part of our ten-year plan, the North Texas Food Bank will fulfill Jan’s vision of providing 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025.”
Today and tomorrow and the tomorrows to come, while you’re filling your kitchens with marvelous aromas or giving your orders to waiters for chef-prepared dishes, there will be folks who will count their blessings for a meal provided by the efforts of a person, whom they never met but will be ever grateful. That person is due to a dedicated wunderkind amongst us by the name of Jan Pruitt.
In keeping with Jan’s commitment and love for NTFB, her family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the North Texas Food Bank honoring Jan.
We extend our most sincere condolences to her family, the NTFB staff and to the countless children and adults, who will not go hungry today or in the future thanks to Jan. As tears are shed, may the multitudes be fed.