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Washington, D.C. – Today Bread for the World’s president, Rev. David Beckmann, will be honored by InterAction with its Julia Vadala Taft Outstanding Leadership Award. The award honors outstanding and distinguished leaders in the community of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations.

“I am honored to be especially recognized for the leadership of Bread for the World in the movement to end hunger and poverty,” said Beckmann. “The work we do is about more than our individual organizations. We are building a movement to end hunger and poverty across the world.”

Beckmann was cited “for outstanding leadership and commitment to the voice of the U.S. NGO community, the alleviation of human suffering, the promotion of human rights, and the cause of peace.” The Julia V. Taft Award celebrates the leadership of an individual within this community whose career and vision has transcended his or her own organization by raising the influence and profile of the U.S. NGO sector as a whole.

The award is named for distinguished American humanitarian Julia Vadala Taft. Taft served in a series of senior positions both in and out of government, including twice as president of InterAction. InterAction is the association of international development and aid organizations, and Bread for the World is a member.  

“I am excited about the progress we have made so far. We are at a point in which we could see the virtual end to hunger and poverty within our lifetimes,” Beckmann said. “But our movement would benefit tremendously from the leadership of those most affected. They shouldn’t just be sitting at the table with us – they should be leading the discussion.”