This afternoon Heifer staff joined together to celebrate former Heifer President and CEO Jo Luck’s leadership and legacy.
Jo Luck started at Heifer in 1989 and became president and CEO in 1992 and was recently the co-recipient of the World Food Prize. Under her leadership:
- Heifer began publishing World Ark
- Heifer started our Central and Eastern Europe program
- President George H.W. Bush gives Heifer the Presidential End Hunger Award
- Heifer is named as one of the “Seven Ways to Change the World” by the National Peace Corps Association
- Heifer is awarded InterAction’s first Mildred Robbins Leet Award for the Advancement of Women for integrating women into field programs
- Heifer begins urban agriculture programs with at-risk youth in major U.S. cities
- Heifer celebrated its 3 millionth Passing on the Gift in China
- Heifer is honored with the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
- Heifer International headquarters building opens and is awarded Platinum LEED certification.
- Heifer is awarded $42.8 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the East Africa Dairy Development Project
- Heifer Village opens on Heifer International Campus, housing the Murphy Keller Education Center
This list is, of course, not exhaustive. Millions of lives have been transformed during the past 22 years. In a message shown at today’s staff event, Heifer CEO Pierre Ferrai put it well:
Numerous Heifer staffers from our global field offices also sent their greetings by way of video…
…and former president Bill Clinton sent his best wishes as well:
Heartfelt congrats to you Jo Luck! You were an example of excellence and a role model to me while I worked for Heifer in NYC..Amazing how your mark has been felt around the world by millions. I hope you feel deep pride in how your leadership at Heifer has changed so many lives for the better. Not many people can say that… Surely, I look forward to seeing your next act!
Anne Frank wrote . . . “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world.” Jo Luck, you have improved the world. . . . moment by moment – hour by hour – day by day, year by year.
You have been an inspiration for so many women and men around the world, individuals who have had the courage to reach for the stars and because of you found a galaxy opening before them. The milky way was made up of goats and cows, sheep and water buffalo and dozens of other gifts. The shooting stars went out in many directions as gifts were passed on.
You have been a dearest friend and colleague. Your legacy at Heifer is unmatched. Our friendship will forever remain.
Thank you Pierre and Brooke for this report.
Rosalee Sinn, the Dansingoat.