Helping Build the Future: David R. Bender, Ph.D.

David’s first connection to Food & Friends was made during the organization’s early days in the 1990’s.

“I was living on Swann Street in Dupont Circle, and at that time, the street was about 80% gay. We were seeing a lot of our neighbors becoming ill with AIDS, and many of them were receiving support from Food & Friends. My next-door neighbor and I were remarkably close, he and his partner both died within a couple of months of each other.”

“I thought Food & Friends was doing important things, and I thought my little donation at the time might just help to put food on someone's table or bring someone with a friendly face to say hi once a week. That was how it all got started.”

More than 25 years later, David continues his steadfast support of Food & Friends. In March 2023, David established the David R. Bender and D. Philip Baker Endowment for Direct Services with a naming gift of $50,000 in memory of his late husband Phil.

This investment in endowment, in addition to David’s future gift through his estate plan, makes an immediate and lasting impact by supporting our kitchen and delivery operations in perpetuity.

“It was a gift for me to be able to bring Phil into the endowment and carry on his legacy as well. Those of us who are not in need of nutritious food assistance, still have a role to play to support the community in a broader scope.”

By joining David in supporting Food & Friends’ endowment and/or including Food & Friends in your estate plans, you can help feed neighbors in need for years to come. Please contact Marilyn Turner, CFRE at (202) 269-6849 or mturner@foodandfriends.org today to learn more.