Jessica Bartholow, Judy Cruz, Liz Sutherlin, and Nancy Woodland Named to NDBN Board

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES, July 28, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), the nonprofit dedicated to addressing the basic needs of children and families living in poverty, has announced the addition of four new members to the organization’s Board of Directors.

Joining the NDBN board are: Jessica Bartholow, legislative advocate for the Western Center on Law & Poverty in California; Judy Cruz, chief executive officer of Treasure Coast Food Bank in Fort Pierce, Florida; Liz Sutherlin, executive director emeritus of HappyBottoms in Kansas City; and Nancy Woodland, executive director of WestSide Baby in Seattle.

“These four remarkable community leaders bring immense experience, knowledge, and heart to our already passionate board of directors,” said NDBN Chief Executive Officer Joanne Goldblum. “Their contributions will help us continue our core mission of raising awareness of diaper need, as well as helping guide the growth and expansion of the organization’s scope of activities.”

About the New Board Members

Jessica Bartholow has been a policy advocate at the Western Center on Law and Poverty since December 2009, and has nearly two decades of experience in anti-poverty organizing, advocacy and program development at the local, state and national level. She has served as the chairperson of the California Hunger Action Coalition and is currently the chair of the California Asset Building Coalition. She has led in the development and passage of several pieces of SNAP and TANF legislation, including legislation to address the diaper need gap in California. Jessica holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science and is the 2012 recipient of the Wellstone – Wheeler National Anti-Hunger Advocate of the Year Award and this year’s recipient of the Women’s Foundation of California’s Trailblazer Advocate Award. Her own story, of how growing up poor has led her to her work as an anti-poverty advocate, has been featured in The Nation and Le Monde.

Judy Cruz serves as executive director of Treasure Coast Food Bank. She works diligently to secure additional food to distribute to the Food Bank's 400 partner agencies in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. Treasure Coast Food Bank distributes millions of pounds of food annually to pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, senior housing, and low-income day-care centers on a daily basis. The organization also operates various mobile food pantries throughout its service area and assist pantries that provide backpacks to hundreds of children on the weekend. Cruz also serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Food Banks.

Liz Sutherlin, currently a community volunteer, is best known for her general management skills and expertise. She is the executive director, emeritus for HappyBottoms, a dynamic diaper bank program that assists children and families living in the Greater Kansas City area. She trained her replacement as executive director and now serves as board member of the HappyBottoms, which enables her to continue to support the growth and sustainability of the organization.

Nancy Woodland returns to the NDBN board for her second term. She serves as the executive director of WestSide Baby, a nonprofit in Seattle that provides essential items to local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, clothing and safety equipment. Having grown up in the Midwest, Nancy graduated from Michigan State University and then Loyola Chicago School of Law as a member of the first class of CIVITAS Child Law Scholars. Knowing her life's work would focus on children in need, Nancy came to Seattle in 1996 to practice law at the Attorney General's Office as a child advocate. Her career highlights include coordinating the first Washington state child abuse and neglect resource website for the University of Washington School of Law, receiving the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Community Hero award in 2010 and serving on the Board of Directors for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
 
About the National Diaper Bank Network

The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need in America, by leading a national movement to help meet the basic needs of all babies and their families…including access to clean, dry diapers and other material goods. Founded in 2011 with the support of Huggies®, the network raises national awareness of diaper need (#DiaperNeed) and supports the development and expansion of diaper banks in communities throughout the country. Its active membership includes more than 320 diaper banks, diaper pantries, and food banks located in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. More information on NDBN and diaper need is available at www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org, and on Twitter (@DiaperNetwork) and Facebook (facebook.com/NationalDiaperBankNetwork).

Troy Moore
National Diaper Bank Network
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