Eric Cooper
CEO, San Antonio Food Bank
Operating on an annual budget of 81 million dollars, San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper feels the main ingredient of his middle class childhood up bringing was love. The 1st born by 20 minutes, Eric, a fraternal twin, was born in Santa Claira, California, his mom a housewife and his dad an airline industry worker. Eric’s parents along with their 6 children; 2 older brothers, his fraternal twin, a younger brother and sister, made their way to Dallas by the time Eric was 12. When asked if he himself has ever used a Food Bank service, he replied no but does remember a time when his dad was on strike and he and his siblings had to utilize the free school lunch program. While growing up Eric looked up to his older brother and uncle who were both in law enforcement and dreamed one day of becoming an FBI agent. Graduating in 1987 with a public education from Northwest High School in Justin, TX, Eric began attending Kansas Weslynn College on a football scholarship. Two years later Eric left college for a two year missionary assignment on the Islands of Samoa. After returning to Dallas, Eric had renewed spirit on finishing his education. He enrolled in Cook County Community College in Dallas. He then transferred over to Salt Lake Community College where he obtained his Associates degree in Business Administration / Finance. He then attended the University of Utah where he graduated in 1997 with a Bachelors in Sociology in Social work. When asked what jobs he had in college he said he was a bit of an entrepreneur, working days at a Real Estate Leasing Company, Travel Agency and Dry Cleaners, all that he started with a good friend and business partner. His routine was attending college at night, studying and completing his schoolwork whenever he could. It was while he was attending college he got his first real taste of wanting to help others. While starting his adult life and courting the person who would ultimately become his wife, his parents lives were unraveling. After the divorce of his parents, Eric’s mom knew about poverty first hand as she struggled to keep the light and water on and feed his 2 younger siblings still living at home. Eric helped out by sending money back home to help support them. When Eric found his dad homeless and living on the streets that reinforced the idea of we are all connected and now had passion to help people in need. Eric asked himself what could he do to make a difference. Seeking a volunteer job at the Utah Food Bank, Eric walked out with a paying job and the title of Volunteer and Food Drive Coordinator. Working at the Utah Food Bank from 1993 to 1999 while still earning his Bachelors’ degree he did everything from fundraising to finding volunteers to warehouse help. He then transferred to the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas and was there from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, the San Antonio Food Bank board of directors recruited him to come on board as the CEO and has been in this position ever since. He now calls San Antonio home with his wife of 19 years Erinn and their 5 children; daughter Madison 15; son Morgan 14; son Gabriel 12; son Elijah 10 and daughter Meredith 6. When asked how he likes to spend his down time, he simply replied, with family and his Mormon faith. After taking a high school aptitude test, his counselor advised him that according to the test results, he should become a farmer; he dismissed the findings at the time. Now somewhat of a modern day farmer his experience and faith guide him to feed 16 south Texas counties, which accounts for 230,900 individuals annually, including 83,000 children and 32,500 seniors, roughly 25% of the San Antonio population.
Charles Arriaga, INCITE Blogger
