Heifer International President Jo Luck Awarded World Food Prize

DES MOINES, Iowa. (Oct 14, 2010) – Heifer International President Jo Luck was the co-recipient of The World Food Prize on Thursday—only the third woman to be so honored—for her work through Heifer to ensure availability and sustainability of food to people in need around the world.

The award was presented at the state Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, as part of the 2010 Borlaug Dialogue, the theme of which is "Take it to the Farmer: Reaching the World's Smallholders." Watch a webcast of the event via Iowa Public Telelvision.

As they prepared to receive the prize, Jo Luck and David Beckman provided an interview to the Des Moines Register in which Jo Luck emphasized the need to empower the poor to become self-reliant: "Give them a few resources, give them a few animals and some training and you can't hold them back. They may not all be a millionaire, but they're going to be successful."

See her reaction to winning the World Food Prize

She shares the prestigious 2010 prize with David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World and one of the foremost U.S. advocates for hungry people. Each will receive a World Food Prize sculpture, a framed Laureate Certificate and will share the $250,000 award.

"Jo Luck and David Beckmann are receiving the 2010 World Food Prize for their landmark achievements in building Bread for the World and Heifer International into two of the world's foremost grassroots organizations leading the charge to end hunger and poverty for millions of people around the globe," according to the World Food Prize citation.

"In honoring Jo Luck and David Beckmann, the World Food Prize recognizes the critical efforts of NGOs in mobilizing and empowering grassroots citizens to end hunger in communities around the world."

The prize is the foremost international award, recognizing individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.

"I cannot begin to adequately express what this award means to me," said Jo Luck. "This is the absolute pinnacle of my professional life. And to share this prize with David (Beckmann), a personal friend for whom I have great respect, is an added honor."

"Although this is a personal recognition, it would not have been possible without the efforts of the men and women who have shepherded Heifer International for more than 65 years, and the millions of families who have been helped and today continue to help others through Heifer's unique requirement that each beneficiary must Pass on the Gift to others, thus becoming a donor themselves. This provides the dignity they so richly deserve.

The October World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony rivals that of the Nobel Prize, drawing more than 800 people from more than 65 countries.

For more than 20 years, Jo Luck helped lead Heifer, becoming president and chief executive officer in 1992. Under her lead, Heifer grew from a $7 million budget to more than $130 million, and she helped expand programs and projects into numerous countries worldwide.

"When I am asked, 'What about the other global problems besides hunger,' I say that without sustenance, people are not able to address other issues," Jo Luck said. "For me, ending hunger is a prerequisite for peace."

Jo Luck joined Heifer International in 1989 as director of International Programs, and in 1992 was named president and chief executive officer of the organization. That same year she became president of the Heifer International Foundation, serving until 2001.

Jo Luck is currently writing a book for Heifer about her two decades' of experiences with the global hunger-fighting organization and the families it serves.