Heifer Foundation Names New President and CEO
June 8, 2010
(Little Rock, Ark.) The Heifer Foundation Board of Trustees has named Domingo Barrios as the new president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization dedicated to helping end hunger and poverty through planned charitable giving.
“The Board of Trustees and the staff of Heifer Foundation are very excited about having Domingo Barrios as our new president and CEO,” said Carol Brown, Chair of Heifer Foundation Board of Trustees. “Through a deliberate, careful process the Board has selected a talented, dynamic individual with a diverse background in the nonprofit sector. His leadership skills, coupled with a passion and commitment for helping others, make him an ideal fit to lead Heifer Foundation.”
Barrios, of Houston, Texas, has more than 20 years experience working in the nonprofit sector as well as having served on the boards of a number of organizations.
“Poverty and hunger in the world cannot be overcome within one generation,” Barrios said. “It requires a sustained effort that is built upon the shoulders of the many leaders, staff, volunteers and donors that have and continue to support Heifer Foundation throughout the years. My goal is to follow the visionary wisdom of founder, Dan West, of ‘passing on the gift,’ so that generation after generation, we can continue to support families as they help themselves out of a pernicious cycle of hunger and poverty.”
Heifer Foundation was established in 1990 to develop and manage an endowment to provide support for the work of Heifer International. Heifer Foundation and Heifer International are separate non-profit charitable organizations that work together to provide a comprehensive sustainable strategy supporting a common mission of ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.
“We are looking forward to working with Domingo Barrios, the new chief executive officer of the Heifer Foundation,” said Charles Stewart, Interim CEO of Heifer International. “His achievements in the humanitarian and nonprofit communities hold great promise for the Foundation and its financial support to Heifer International’s sustainable development work, empowering families around the world to achieve self-reliance.”
Born in 1960 in Colon, Panama, Barrios immigrated to the United States in 1978. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Creighton University and Master of Science in Health Administration from the University of Colorado.
His most recent work includes founding and serving as president of The Nonprofit Coach, LLC, a private business that worked with nonprofit executives to maximize their organization’s potential. Prior to this, he served as vice president of community investing from 2006-08 for the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and from 2000-06 as grant officer for the Houston Endowment Inc. He has also served as the executive director of both the CHRISTUS Galveston Ministry and Greater Houston Area Health Education Center, as well as administration manager for the City of Houston.
Barrios has been a member of several boards, including Harris County Healthcare Alliance, Texas Health Institute, and the Hispanic Health Coalition of South East Texas, which he co-founded. He is currently a board member of American Leadership Forum and is a trustee for the Rockwell Fund.
Barrio is married to Gina, and they have a fourteen year old son, Adriel.
About Heifer Foundation:
Heifer Foundation envisions a sustainable world where hunger and poverty no longer exist. Its mission is to partner with people in the global movement to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth. To that end, Heifer Foundation offers donors a variety of planned charitable giving options, while developing and managing an endowment to provide long-term support for Heifer International. Heifer Foundation offers a variety of planned giving instruments that provide individuals from all walks of life the ability to help themselves, their loved ones, and a world in great need. For more information, visit www.heiferfoundation.org.
About Heifer International:
Since 1944, Heifer International has helped more than 12 million hungry families in over 125 countries move toward self-reliance through the gift of livestock as well as a wide variety of education initiatives, including agricultural techniques and leadership skills. For more information, visit www.heifer.org.
