RENO — Cherie Jamason, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, was honored May 14 with the 2010 Distinguished Nevadan award. This is the most prestigious award presented by the Nevada Board of Regents. The Distinguished Nevadan award is conferred upon individuals who have contributed to the cultural, scientific or social advancement of Nevada. The award ceremony was held in conjunction with the advanced degree commencement at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Jamason joined the Food Bank of Northern Nevada more than 20 years ago. With her leadership and expertise, what began as a small grass-roots food assistance program serving Washoe County, is now a nationally recognized anti-hunger organization, serving more than 124,000 people and distributing more than 7 million pounds of food yearly through more than 118 partner agencies and six direct service programs in 13 northern Nevada counties and seven in the Tahoe/Sierra region of California.

Jamason has brought hunger issues to the forefront in Nevada, garnering both attention and action. She has successfully implemented many outreach programs including the Nevada Child Nutrition Initiative providing summer food and after school meal programs for low-income children throughout the state, food stamp outreach, a pilot program for nutrition education in at-risk schools and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for Nevada. Her work has helped hundreds of thousands of people to eat during her tenure and she continues to advocate state and federal policy makers to help those who are often overlooked.