Mickey Leland’s Life and Legacy
May 19, 2009
On Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 CHC hosted a Capitol Hill tribute at the United States Botanic Garden in honor of Mickey Leland, former Representative from Houston, Texas.
At the event, CHC memorialized Mickey by honoring Representative Donald M. Payne, Senator Herb Kohl, Senator Thad Cochran, and Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr., for the dedication and determination it takes to make hunger and poverty a focal point in the U.S. Congress. In addition, CHC celebrated the bi-partisan approach taken by both Representative Mickey Leland, and Representative Bill Emerson in the fight to eradicate hunger.
The awards were presented by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Representative Jo Ann Emerson, Representative James P. McGovern and Ambassador Tony Hall. We thank each of you for your significant contributions to fighting hunger in the United States and throughout the World.
We were joined by many special guests who came to celebrate the life of Representative Leland. We are honored that Alison Leland was able to join us in paying tribute to her late husband, Mickey. Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, opened the evening by greeting guests and honorees. A moving tribute to Mickey was delivered by Representative John Lewis. The program concluded with a video tribute message from Chris Matthews. CHC thanks Chris and MSNBC for taking part in our tribute to Mickey.
A special thank you to the following corporations, foundations, organizations and individuals for sponsoring the 5th Annual CHC Awards Ceremony!
Harvester $25,000
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- General Mills Foundation
- Kraft Foods
- Monsanto Company
- Sodexo Foundation/Sodexo, Inc.
- Wal-Mart
Cultivator $15,000
- Land O’Lakes
Sower $10,000
- Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Feed the Children
- Feeding America
- Mars, Inc.
- National Dairy Council
Plower $5,000
- Darden Restaurants
- Yum! Brands, Inc.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Friend of the Center $2,500
- American Beverage Association
- AT&T
- Bunge North America, Inc.
- Dennis Hertel
- Friends of the World Food Program
- Grocery Manufacturers Association
- International Dairy Foods Association
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Roll Call
- Service Employee International Union, SEIU
- Share Our Strength
- Snack Food Association
- Victory Wholesale Group
Non-Profit Sponsor $1,000
- 3M
- Bread for the World
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Food Marketing Institute
- Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
- Heifer International
- MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
- North American Millers’ Association
- Students Team Up to Fight Hunger
- USTelecom