In recognition of their more than 25 years of helping those who struggle to put food on their tables in Palm Beach County, Dan and Jacquie Shorter have been named the 2015 recipients of The Jim Moran Foundation Award.
With this honor, the Shorters have selected Feed the Hungry for a $50,000 unrestricted grant awarded by The Jim Moran Foundation. They have also received a bronze sculpture created by South Florida artist George Gadson of an open book with a child climbing a ladder supported by an outstretched hand.
“Dan and Jacquie have devoted much of their lives to selflessly serving others,” said Jan Moran, chairman and president of The Jim Moran Foundation. “Their compassion and commitment to feeding the hungry inspire us all to reach out with kindness to our neighbors in need.”
Volunteering at a church’s feeding program in 1987, Dan was asked by the pastor to make sure when delivering the food baskets to let the families know that God loved them. After providing a box including a “skinny chicken,” a loaf of bread and two cans of peas to a needy family with small children, Dan reflected, “You know, I believe God loves people more than this.” The following year, the Shorters coordinated their first annual food drive and packed bountiful Thanksgiving boxes for 40 families. By 1994, they were serving more than 200 families at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Shorters founded the Feed the Hungry pantry in 1995 and soon began providing monthly food boxes in addition to holiday boxes. Currently, through a dedicated force of 200 volunteers, Feed the Hungry serves approximately 1,000 families monthly and more than 3,000 families during Thanksgiving and Christmas. The pantry is on pace to feed more than 15,000 food insecure individuals in 2015.
"We are honored and humbled to receive The Jim Moran Foundation Award," said Dan Shorter. "The compassion of Jim and Jan Moran and The Foundation board and staff empower us and so many others to lift up those in desperate need in our community."
The Jim Moran Foundation established this annual award in 2003 to acknowledge those who have a history of giving back to their community through active service and personal commitment. The individual(s) must exemplify the characteristics of the mission of The Foundation, reflect proven accomplishments that address real community needs and/or concerns, and inspire others to embrace civic and charitable responsibility in meeting the needs of their community.
