PRESS RELEASES

Feed the Children Hires J.C. Watts as President and CEO

ATLANTA, GA, January 21, 2016 — Feed the Children, an Oklahoma City-based charitable organization with global reach, today announced that J.C. Watts has been appointed the new president and CEO by its board of directors, and he will begin his duties Feb. 1. Watts will broaden existing programs and develop key initiatives and partnerships.

The board of directors, with help from the trusted talent acquisition company CarterBaldwin, found Watts to be the best candidate with his unique background and overarching knowledge in both politics and business. His experience serving others domestically and abroad, defending human rights, and combatting global poverty position him as the perfect leader for Feed the Children.

“Our vision is to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry, and the board trusts that J.C. will help us fulfill this goal,” said Rick England, Feed the Children board chairman. “With J.C.’s diverse skill set, solid leadership and unwavering compassion, our organization will continue moving forward in our national and international efforts.”

Watts has seamlessly led both small and large organizations, providing strategic focus, program guidance and business development. Watts’ keen ability connecting and uniting individuals to fulfill one mission will aid in securing support from influential community members, corporations and donors to feed hungry children worldwide.

“I am delighted and honored to join Feed the Children,” said Watts. “We will fight to eliminate hunger and provide resources to make it possible for people to climb out of poverty and become capable of supporting themselves.”

Through Watts’ travels to impoverished countries, he has seen poverty first hand and feels a calling to help those in need. He believes in rebuilding individuals and providing them the tools needed for long-term success, rather than a short-term handout, when possible.

Prior to his role as Oklahoma congressman, where his peers elected him chairman of the Republican Conference, Watts was Oklahoma Corporation Commission chairman and a youth minister. Watts will maintain his role as chairman of Watts Partners, and management of his other businesses.

Highlights of Feed the Children’s work in 2014, include the distribution of $266 million in food, essentials, educational supplies, and medicine, impacting close to 9 million individuals in the nation. Feed the Children is an advocate of education in impoverished communities and provides support through its U.S. programs and Teacher Stores. Feed the Children provided more than $5 million worth of school supplies and gave close to 65,000 backpacks and more than 575,000 books to children in 2014.

Internationally, the organization distributed more than $78 million in food, essentials, educational supplies, and medicine to children worldwide. Feed the Children sponsored more than 11,500 children, addressing the root causes of poverty through child sponsorship, school sponsorship, and other community-based program and project activities.

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