Wednesday, March 10, 2021
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Two women who have made their mark on the Pittsburgh community by working to address neighbors’ basic needs in sustainable ways are being honored with the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership’s 2021 Exemplary Leader Award. The University of Pittsburgh’s Johnson Institute, part of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, recognizes individuals who are committed to the highest standards of professional leadership, integrity, accountability and stewardship through its Exemplary Leader Awards. Gisele Barreto Fetterman and Leah Lizarondo will be recognized in a virtual event at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 26. Registration is free and open to the public. The event will include a Q&A session with the audience.
Laura Petrilla
In a bi-weekly series, we re interviewing female executives, founders, CEOs basically, boss ladies on their power suit a.k.a. the outfit they wear every day for easy dressing to conquer whatever the job throws at them.
The pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives. Now, more than 50 million American face hunger, according to Feeding America 15 million more than reported in 2019. It s a staggering and scary stat, but thankfully numerous nonprofits and volunteers are springing into action to help those in need.
Food Rescue Hero is one of those groups. As its CEO and co-founder, Leah Lizarondo, describes it, Food Rescue Hero is a DoorDash for food surplus: A user downloads the Food Rescue Hero app and volunteers to pick up food surplus from grocery stores like Safeway, Giant, or Whole Foods, then delivers it directly to families or individuals struggling with food insecurity. The company launched in 2018 and is currently in 12 cities; from then to now,