Montgomery County Food Bank Announces Its 2025 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala Honorees

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Montgomery County Food Bank (MCFB) is pleased to announce the honorees for its 2025 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala, Presented by Huntsman, which will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott. The Gala, a premier fundraising event for the Food Bank, will bring together community leaders to support the critical work of providing nutritious meals to those in need across Montgomery County. Every dollar raised will provide up to four meals for children, families, and seniors in the county.

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of Montgomery County Food Bank, the event will embrace a "Ruby" theme, symbolizing the milestone anniversary and the enduring impact of four decades of service. Led by Gala Chair Angela Storseth-Cooper and Honorary Chair Justin Kendrick, MCFB will recognize several outstanding individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to the fight against hunger. The honorees for the 2025 Gala include:

• Betty Hardy, 2025 Legacy Award - The Legacy Award acknowledges the significant contributions of an individual to the Food Bank and community, honoring their lasting impact. Montgomery County Food Bank is proud to honor Betty Hardy with the Legacy Award, recognizing her vision and selflessness as the founder of the Food Bank. Betty’s journey began humbly, distributing groceries from her garage and driven by a deep desire to help those in need. Betty’s compassion and determination helped her quickly gain support and attention, allowing the initiative to grow far beyond its modest beginnings to currently serving almost 9 million meals each year. Her dedication to helping others laid the foundation for the Food Bank’s success and continues to inspire its mission of uniting the community to fight hunger.

• Howard Hughes, 2025 Building Hope Award – This award honors an organization for its dedication to strengthening and growing Montgomery County Food Bank's capacity to serve the community. Howard Hughes is being recognized for his philanthropic efforts and dedication to the community, supporting the Food Bank’s mission to unite the community to fight hunger. Howard Hughes has played a key role in the Build Today, Feed Tomorrow expansion project as a Champion-level project benefactor, contributing resources, vision and leadership to create an 18,000-square-foot facility that will provide over 1 million more much-needed meals annually to our neighbors facing hunger. Howard Hughes is also a Hunger Hero-level sponsor, with their team regularly volunteering to support the Food Bank’s efforts.

• Conroe Independent School District, 2025 Brighter Future Award – This award honors an organization for its commitment to supporting Montgomery County Food Bank and creating a lasting impact for future generations facing hunger. Conroe ISD has been a steadfast partner of the Food Bank, providing vital support through its school nutrition programs, ensuring that children receive nutritious meals needed to thrive in their education. Through their Backpack and School Pantry programs, 14,820 meals are provided to children every month across 24 campuses, along with 10 School Pantries feeding 1,345 students and families monthly during the past two years. In addition, thanks to an incredible Summer of Sharing initiative, Conroe ISD, in partnership with MCFB and H-E-B, helped distribute hot meals, non-perishable food, and school supplies to over 1,000 families— impacting more than 4,500 people during back-to-school distributions for the past two years.

• Cypress-Woodlands Junior Forum, 2025 Volunteer of the Year - This award honors an individual or group of volunteers for their outstanding volunteer service with Montgomery County Food Bank. Cypress-Woodlands Junior Forum’s (CWJF) commitment to volunteer service has been a driving force behind the success of many Food Bank initiatives, including food distributions and special events. Since 2020, more than 140 members have volunteered their time, contributing over 4,000 combined service hours to Montgomery County Food Bank. Cypress–Woodlands Junior Forum volunteers twice a month at the Food Bank and in the community with a monthly senior distribution, providing nonperishable food and fresh produce to seniors at their door. We can always count on the CWJF group to work hard, have fun, and spread positivity wherever they go!

• Mission Northeast, 2025 Partner Agency of the Year - The Food Bank has a network of over 90 partner agencies throughout Montgomery County. This award honors a partner agency for its unwavering and impactful work in the fight against hunger. Mission Northeast, a key partner in the Food Bank’s network, is being recognized for its exemplary work in providing food assistance to families in need. Led by its Executive Director, Pamela Dickson, its food pantry is a long-standing partner of the Food Bank and serves approximately 2,000 neighbors per month. Mission Northeast goes above and beyond – providing additional resources and support for their community and is one of the first MCFB partners to reach out to support our neighbors during and after a disaster.

“The collective efforts of these honorees exemplify the spirit of community and the power of collaboration in the fight against hunger,” said Kristine Marlow, President and CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank. “As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Montgomery County Food Bank, we are especially proud to recognize these outstanding individuals and organizations whose dedication and compassion have helped us grow and thrive over the years. Their contributions have made a profound impact on the lives of countless neighbors in need, and we look forward to honoring their incredible achievements on this special occasion.”

To learn more about the 2025 Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala and to purchase tickets or tables, please visit mcfoodbank.org/gala. If you are interested in Gala sponsorship opportunities, please contact development@mcfoodbank.org or 936.271.8804.

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