Claire Babineaux-Fontenot

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot
Born1964 (age 60–61)
Opelousas, Louisiana
EducationUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
Southern University Law Center
Dedman School of Law
Known forCEO of Feeding America
SpouseBarry Fontenot

Claire L. Babineaux-Fontenot (born in 1964) is the CEO of Feeding America, a national foodbank across the United States. In 2020, Time named her among the 100 most influential people in the world.

Early life and education

Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, Babineaux-Fontenot attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Southern University Law Center, and Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law.[1] Growing up, her parents Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux cared for over 100 children through a combination of birth, adoption and fostering. Her parents were eventually inducted into the National Adoption Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]

Career

After graduating from college, Babineaux-Fontenot spent 13 years in executive roles at Walmart, including executive vice president of finance and treasurer, and held leadership positions at Adams and Reese, LLP, and PwC. She was also the assistant secretary for the state Office of Legal Affairs and administrative law judge for the Louisiana Department of Civil Service.[3] After undergoing treatment for her cancer in 2015, Babineaux-Fontenot left Walmart to "grant her the time to glean some insight on how to best use her voice to make a positive impact on the lives of other men and women with cancer."[4]

In 2018, Babineaux-Fontenot was named CEO of the board of directors for Feeding America.[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Time named her among the 100 most influential people in the world.[6] She also joined the New York Life Board of Directors.[7]

On March 10, 2024, the University of Notre Dame announced that Babineaux-Fontenot will receive the University's 2024 Laetare Medal, the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics, at Notre Dame’s 179th University Commencement Ceremony on May 19, 2024.[8]

Personal life

Babineaux-Fontenot and her husband, Barry Fontenot, have two children together and reside in Springdale, Arkansas.[9] She is Catholic.[10]

References

  1. ^ Kelly, Keyaira (April 24, 2020). "Feeding America CEO is on a mission to feed the nation's hungry". thegrio.com. TheGrio. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Clifford, Catherine (June 12, 2020). "Feeding America CEO: How growing up with 107 brothers and sisters helped make me successful". cnbc.com. CNBC. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Feeding America Grabs New CEO From Walmart". The NonProfit Times. September 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Sasso, Kelly (February 20, 2017). "Breast cancer diagnosis takes Walmart Executive down new path". 4029tv.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. ^ Daigle, Adam (September 26, 2018). "Opelousas native named CEO of Feeding America". The Acadiana Advocate. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  6. ^ Tu, Jessie (September 24, 2020). "Meet the women on TIME's Most Influential List". womensagenda.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  7. ^ "Claire L. Babineaux-Fontenot and Paula A. Steiner join New York Life Board of Directors". news.yahoo.com. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, to receive 2024 Laetare Medal" https://news.nd.edu/news/claire-babineaux-fontenot-ceo-of-feeding-america-to-receive-2024-laetare-medal/
  9. ^ "Senior Vice President and Chief Tax Officer". bwlfoundation.org. April 29, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "Faith and the fight against hunger". Catholic Digest. June 5, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2022.