Debra VizziBefore becoming the second CEO in the history of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, in 2015, Debra Vizzi was president of VIP Community Services, which provides social services to the poor in the Bronx, New York. She spent her childhood in foster care, and used her early experiences as a catalyst for her human services career. Vizzi, who has dedicated her life and work to helping those in need, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree from State University College at Buffalo, N.Y. Debra, an expert speaker on the topics of poverty, food insecurity, and child welfare, received the 2015 New Jersey Humanitarian Award from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Monmouth) and a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the State University of College at Buffalo.
At CFBNJ, Vizzi is responsible for overseeing the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, serving people in 17 counties. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by CFBNJ’s network of 1,000+ partner charities including soup kitchens, food pantries and child and senior feeding programs. CFBNJ distributed 44.6 million pounds of food in the past year, and also provides job training, youth programs, advocacy and SNAP (food stamps) outreach. Vizzi leads a team of some 200 employees at CFBNJ’s Hillside headquarters and Southern Branch in Egg Harbor Township.