The Independent View: Martha's Table and New Approaches to Poverty

I am always looking for entities who have different approaches to poverty. What is interesting about this one, is the founder is from Microsoft and the Gates Foundation, who I became aware of during my 3+ years working in Seattle.

This is from their Mission Statement:

Martha's Table transforms lives by engaging the community in developing sustainable solutions to poverty. We meet core needs of our clients with education, nutrition, clothing, and family support programs that prepare young people, from infancy through adulthood, for a promising future.

Martha’s Table helps 1,100 people a day deal with the immediate effects of poverty and finds long-term solutions with education, nutrition and family support services. Martha’s Table addresses emergency needs with food and clothing programs and breaks the long cycle of poverty with education and family strengthening programs. Martha’s Table works to create positive outcomes with:

1. Tutorial, educational, job training and recreational programs during the school year and in the summer for approximately 250 children and youth ages 3 months to 24 years old

2. Family support services, including groceries, Martha's Outfitters - a thrift store and clothing distribution center; screenings and referrals; Meals to the homeless every day of the year at numerous sites throughout the city as well as meals for senior shut-ins and collaborations with 200 other organizations to coordinate efficiently a variety of services.

3. More than 10,000 people a year from schools, businesses, faith based groups and the community volunteer with us and learn about services and the value of helping their neighbors.

Patty Stonesifer is President and CEO of Martha’s Table, a non-profit in Washington, DC committed to developing sustainable solutions to poverty with programs focused on providing food, nutrition and education. Patty previously advised business, nonprofit and government leaders on strategies for reducing inequity, and was appointed in 2010 by President Obama to serve as the Chair of the White House Council for Community Solutions. In 2012, she completed her term as Chair of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents. In the ten years prior, she was the founding CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She serves on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Center for Global Development, the Broad Institute, and is a member of the Circle of Allies and Champions for the National Council of Young Leaders, an Advisory Board Member for America Achieves, Hope Street Group Advisor and on the Executive Committee of RaiseDC.

Before joining the Gates Foundation, Ms. Stonesifer spent two decades working in technology, with her final role as Senior Vice President at Microsoft Corporation leading the consumer and interactive products division. She is on the corporate board of Amazon.com.

Ms. Stonesifer served as a member of the US delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Sessions on AIDS, is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a graduate of Indiana University, and has received honorary doctorate degrees from Indiana University and Tufts University.

CLICK HERE for their website.