Dave Krepcho, Javier Perez, CFA and Zach Knope, CFA: Fighting Hunger and Feeding Hope with Second Harvest

­­­As many of you know, Second Harvest has been an important partner of CFA Society Orlando. As a team, and over the past four years, this partnership has aided many individuals through financial literacy and Second Harvest's culinary training program. During these difficult times we are excited to expand on that partnership by matching member donations to Second Harvest, up to $75 per member. Please consider donating here.

Our guest today is Dave Krepcho, President & CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. In 1992, he became the Executive Director of the Miami Food Bank and went on to work for Feeding America in Chicago, the nation's largest hunger relief organization. He served as the Vice President of Business Development, responsible for all product donations and relationships with the national food industry.  In 2009, he was named Central Floridian of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel. 

We have two local co-hosts today: Zach Knope, CFA is a Senior Attribution Analyst for MFS Investment Management.  He has served on the board of CFA Orlando since 2016 and is currently the Treasurer and Branding and Communications Chair. Javier Perez is the Chief Operating Officer at merchant bank Commenda Capital and currently sits on the CFA Orlando board. He was previously the President of CFA Orlando.

In this episode, we discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on Second Harvest Food Bank, how the organization has been forced to pivot to keep up with demand and adhere to social distancing requirements, and highlight some positive stories from the crisis.  

Follow the CFA Society of Orlando on Twitter at @CFAOrlandoFL

(0:38 ) —  Colby Donovan, Zach Knope and Javier Perez introduce the podcast

(3:54) — Introduce Dave Krepcho and Second Harvest Food Bank

(8:40) — How COVID-19 forced Second Harvest Food Bank to pivot some of their programs

(12:23) — How they are handling volunteers right now

(15:10) — His fundraising effort amid COVID-19

(16:12) — Virtual food drives

(20:20) — How this crisis is different from the Great Financial Crisis

(24:30) — Issues with food sourcing