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PRESS RELEASE: New Manna CEO

Silver Spring, Maryland, January 13, 2025

The Board of Directors of the Manna Food Center is delighted to announce Craig L. Rice as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). We remain grateful to Holly Wong, Immediate past Board Chair for supporting the Manna team as the interim CEO until Craig begins his post on February 3, 2025.

Craig brings to Manna a strong background and passion for service to the neighbors in our community that has been demonstrated throughout his career. In his most recent post, he served as Vice President of Community Engagement for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington. In this role, he led engagement and partnership opportunities with corporations, government, individuals, and other non-profits to support families with sick or injured children that may also be experiencing food, housing, health and income insecurity.

Previously, Craig served as Montgomery County Council Councilmember (District 2) for twelve years; he served as President of the Council, chaired the Council’s Education and Culture Committee, and served on the Health and Human Services Committee. During his Councilmember tenure, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Craig was a strong supporter of and partner to Manna, and his keen insights led to strategic partnerships between Manna and the Montgomery County Public Schools to provide critical food security for children and families.

In addition to his strong ties in Montgomery County, Craig spent four years as a State Delegate in the Maryland General Assembly, and over a decade in Fortune 500 companies. He has won numerous awards, including the 2022 Maryland Association of Counties Marilyn Praisner Public Service Award, the 2021 Living Legends Award for Service to Humanity, and the 2019 Montgomery County Board of Education Award for Distinguished Service.

Craig attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the University of Maryland, and lives in Darnestown, Maryland with his wife Tia. He is the proud father to three children, Alex, Anaiya and Caelyn.

Craig succeeds Jackie DeCarlo, who stepped down in December 2024 after more than a decade of tremendous leadership and dedication. Jackie was instrumental in building a strong team and a remarkable organization, and the Manna team is well-positioned to succeed in its mission of food distribution, education, and advocacy. The Board deeply appreciates Jackie’s significant legacy of achievement and services and wishes her all the best.

“I have always sought the opportunity to be a catalyst for change in my community, especially with the understanding that food represents much more than just a healthy meal or calories on a plate. Food embodies love, comfort, and hope; it is deeply intertwined with our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. I want to express my gratitude to my predecessor, Jackie DeCarlo, for her dedicated service to the organization and the community, and I aim to build upon her remarkable work with the amazing Manna team. Achieving the goal of eliminating hunger is within reach with the right support from government, corporations, and the greater community. During my tenure, I aspire to help guide us toward that objective.”
–Craig

“We are thrilled that Craig is joining Manna Food Center, and that he will build upon this legacy and help grow Manna towards the future. As a former elected official, non-profit executive and community advocate, he has the vision, leadership skills, networks of partners and passion to help Manna eliminate hunger in Montgomery County”.
–Jason

Please join us in welcoming Craig to the Manna team!

 

Jason Mills
Chair, Board of Directors
Manna Food Center

 

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About the Manna Food Center:

Manna Food Center serves as the largest community-based food assistance provider in Montgomery County, providing services to 51,000 individuals each year and helping distribute rescued food to partner food assistance agencies, community food pantries, and emergency shelters county-wide. Since 1983, Manna has worked to fight hunger, feed hope and transition recipients from a place of scarcity to prosperity.