Food Allergy Research & Education Welcomes Lori Stokes to Board of Directors

McLEAN, Va. (Jan. 9, 2018) – Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization working on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, is pleased to announce the election of Lori Stokes to its Board of Directors.

Stokes is an award-winning journalist and co-host of Good Day New York, which airs on WNYW-FOX 5 News. She has long been involved with FARE, volunteering her time and generously lending her high profile to FARE’s annual New York Spring Luncheon, which she has emceed since 2006. Stokes’ dedication to the cause stems from a personal connection to food allergy – she is allergic to tree nuts, and her youngest daughter also has a tree nut allergy.

Most recently, Stokes served as co-anchor of “Eyewitness News This Morning” at WABC, where she worked for the past 17 years. Prior to WABC, Stokes worked at MSNBC/NBC. She was honored with the George P. Foster Peabody Award for her September 11, 2001 coverage of the World Trade Center attack and received the 2003 Congressional Black Caucus Celebration of Leadership Award for her civic service and her status as a positive role model. The New York City Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence recently honored Stokes for her entire body of work and her extensive community outreach efforts.

“We are very excited to welcome Lori to FARE’s Board of Directors. She has been a passionate advocate for the food allergy community both on and off camera, using her prominent platform to elevate public recognition of the difficulties faced by people with food allergies. With Lori’s commitment and expertise, we know she will be a tremendous asset to the Board,” said Janet Atwater, chair of FARE’s Board of Directors.

In addition to her work on behalf of FARE, Stokes dedicates time to a range of organizations. She serves on the Governing Board of Directors for the International Spy Museum and is a member of Jack and Jill of America, founded in 1938 under the leadership of Marion Stubbs Thomas. Stokes serves as a member of the board of trustees at Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey and St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey.

FARE’s Board of Directors is comprised entirely of individuals with personal connections to food allergy – either as a parent or as an adult with food allergy.

“I have worked with FARE as well as the Food Allergy Initiative, one of its legacy organizations, for many years in a volunteer capacity, so it is a real honor for me to take on a more active role as a member of the Board of Directors,” Stokes said. “I’ve lived both sides of the food allergy journey – experiencing food allergy firsthand and also raising a child with a food allergy – so I am keenly aware of the challenges that families face. I look forward to working with the Board and FARE to make the world safer for the food allergy community.” 

For more information about FARE and food allergies, visit www.foodallergy.org.