Martha's Table statement of appreciation for Kim R. Ford

The Martha’s Table team wishes to express our deep appreciation to Kim R. Ford for her bold leadership of Martha’s Table over the past three years. Her recent transition as our President & CEO is felt and felt heavily among the team, partners, volunteers, and neighbors. During her time at the helm of Martha’s Table, we witnessed Kim serve steadfastly, courageously, and compassionately.

She deepened our relationship with the community and helped us earn the trust of our neighbors. She transformed how we worked to ensure we met the rising needs of residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She launched transformational programs to foster economic mobility – with a driving belief that every Washingtonian deserves the opportunity to thrive. She catapulted the work of this local organization onto the national stage.

And she fought to keep the Martha’s Table team whole through increased investments in pay equity, professional development, and emotional wellness… All during a time when many other organizations were scaling back amid the public health crisis. Those of us on the Martha’s Table team who had the privilege to work alongside Kim every day got to witness a rare type of leader – a leader who is not only impactful at scale, but who paid close attention to and cared for team members, neighbors, and volunteers.

Many of us can tell you that on any given day, Kim would lay out a bold strategic vision for impact, lock in a transformational financial contribution, turn right around and ask a neighbor about their grandson (whose name she would most definitely recall), before hopping on the McKenna’s Wagon van to deliver hot meals in the torrential rain, at risk to her own personal health and safety amid a global pandemic.

As we continue moving the mission of Martha’s Table forward during this leadership transition, the Martha’s Table team wants to acknowledge, honor, and celebrate Kim’s remarkable leadership. Kim exemplifies the standard that the Martha’s Table team will continue to hold ourselves to – to act with compassion, respect, teamwork, and accountability and to always center the dignity of our neighbors in all that we do.

We owe an immense debt of gratitude to Kim. And while she leaves great shoes to fill, the mission continues. The work is too important, and we, the Martha’s Table team, are in it for the long haul.

Yours in Service,