Gloria J. McAdam is the Executive Director of Foodshare of Greater Hartford. Located in Windsor, Foodshare's mission is to end hunger in greater Hartford. To accomplish this mission, Foodshare works with local, regional and national food businesses to encourage them to donate surplus or unmarketable food products that are still fit for human consumption. Foodshare distributes over 4 million pounds of food each year to over 200 local programs throughout the greater Hartford region.
During Gloria's thirteen years as director of Foodshare, the organization has grown substantially, from only 100,000 pounds of food per year to over 4 million, and has grown out of several facilities. With Gloria's leadership, the organization completed a $1.5 million capital campaign in 1992 and now owns a 17,000 square foot warehouse equipped with commercial refrigeration and freezers.
Gloria has been active in the anti-hunger movement beyond her local organization. She was a founder of the Connecticut Anti-Hunger Coalition, a past secretary and chair of the New England Food Bank Association, and is currently the Chair of the City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy.
Gloria and Foodshare have been recognized both locally and nationally. Foodshare has won an unprecedented six national "Hunger's Hope" awards over the last three years from Second Harvest, the national network of food banks. These awards are presented for innovation and leadership in the work to end hunger in the United States. Gloria was honored in 1992 by her alma mater, St. Lawrence University, in Canton, New York, with their "Sol Feinstone Award," the highest recognition bestowed upon alumni. In 1993, Gloria was honored by Leadership Greater Hartford with their "Community Leadership Award" and by the Public Relations Society of America, Connecticut Valley Chapter, with their "Merit Award." 1995 saw Soroptomist International present Gloria with the local "Woman of Distinction" award. In 1996, Character Counts! Connecticut presented Gloria with the prestigious "Governor's Award."
Gloria and her family are active members of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford. In addition to being a member of a Christian Sharing Group and regularly taking part in the many classes the church offers, Gloria has taught in the Sunday School.
Gloria has been active for several years in a local club for tall people, Hartford Heights. In fact, it is here that Gloria met her husband, N. J. "Chip" Gorra II! Hartford Heights is a social club for women who are 5'10" or taller and men who are 6'2" or taller. At 6' and 6'6", Gloria and Chip are head and shoulders above much of the world and are even taller than many of their Hartford Heights friends. Although for a while, Gloria was the tallest woman in the club and Chip was the tallest man, it is no longer true -- now sometimes the two of them feel like midgets at club functions (imagine that!). Gloria is a past President of Hartford Heights and has, for the last several years, served as the publicity coordinator.
In addition, Gloria currently serves as Executive Vice President for Publicity of Tall Clubs International, a North American fellowship of tall clubs like Hartford Heights. In this role, Gloria promotes issues of importance to tall people, like hospital beds that are long enough and airplane seats that fit, to a national audience.
Gloria's other passion is the welfare of our children and she has been both a foster parent and has adopted "special needs" foster children in the past. Gloria also served as the volunteer President of the Board of Directors of Covenant to Care, a non-profit, Connecticut, child welfare organization.
Gloria, and her husband, N. J. "Chip" Gorra II, reside in East Hartford, with their children and a mixed breed dog named "Goldie."
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Return to McAdam Family Reunion home page.