The president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was named the 2025 John van Hengel Fellow by Feeding America during the organization’s annual conference in Atlanta in April.
Dan Flowers has dedicated nearly 30 years to food banking, beginning his career as an agency relations coordinator and now serving as leader of the Akron-Canton food bank for the past two decades.
Feeding America recognized Flowers’ tenure and his relationships with neighbors and community partners, including corporations, foundations and government entities that expand the food bank’s reach and impact.
Flowers has championed innovations like online ordering to improve access to food. He served as the chair of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks Board for five years and has held leadership roles in the national Feeding America network.
“Dan leads by example and brings people together to improve communities and lives. He embodies the qualities of servant leadership upon which the John van Hengel Fellowship Award is modeled,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “By standing shoulder to shoulder with people experiencing food insecurity and building inclusive environments and partnerships, we can make remarkable progress toward ending hunger. Dan’s unifying, hands-on approach reflects this truth and drives incredible impact. I am deeply proud to work beside him in our mission to end hunger for good in America.”
Flowers said he was humbled by the award.
“Early in my career, I had the chance to meet John van Hengel and have told his story 10,000 times,” he said. “I have been mentored by many past recipients of this award and deeply respect them all. Becoming a John van Hengel Fellow is the greatest honor of my career, no question.”
What is the John van Hengel Fellowship Award?
Established in 2002, the award honors John van Hengel, the founder of the world’s first food bank, St. Mary’s in Phoenix, and widely regarded as the “father of food banking.”
This lifetime achievement award celebrates people who are dedicated to fighting hunger and serving communities in need.
Flowers will be invited to speak at the 2026 Feeding America conference, attended by an expected 700 food bank leaders and colleagues.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank also received a Network Collaboration Award for its innovative efforts to improve neighbor access and experience in cooperation with community organizations. The food bank launched Rise Academy, bringing together agency leaders from across its eight-county service area for professional training in areas such as fundraising, strategic planning, and organizational development.
The food bank is the source of emergency food for 630 food pantries, meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs that directly serve individuals and families in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
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