Ron Pollack founded FRAC in 1970 to end hunger in the U.S. by leveraging public policy. Through this Fund, FRAC carries on Ron’s illustrious and enduring legacy of anti-hunger advocacy and lifelong commitment to championing families and individuals struggling with hunger and poverty.
Ron started FRAC at a time when one-third of U.S. counties had no food assistance programs for households with low incomes. In response, Ron filed two dozen federal court cases on the same day to remedy this problem. After winning the first two cases, Congress enacted legislation to secure food stamp coverage throughout the country. More than 50 years later, food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the first line of defense against hunger nationwide.
Among Ron’s other notable accomplishments during his FRAC tenure:
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- Successfully arguing two cases on the same day in the U.S. Supreme Court to secure food assistance for people with low incomes;
- Filing federal litigation that resulted in the creation of the WIC program, which today provides access to nourishing foods and services for women, infants, and children; and
- Initiating lawsuits against numerous urban school districts that offered no school lunch, which eventually made the National School Lunch Program operational around the country.
FRAC is establishing this Fund to honor Ron’s years of dedicated service to the organization. He stepped down from FRAC’s board of directors in December 2023 but remains committed to advancing FRAC’s mission. Donations to this fund will support FRAC’s vision to build a nation free from hunger.
