Buffalo Ledger

Tara A. Ellis, President and CEO of FeedMore WNY, has been serving in her role since October 2017. She joined the Food Bank of WNY with a vision to unite the Food Bank and Meals on Wheels to better cater to the needs of vulnerable community members in Western New York.

Before assuming her position at the Food Bank of WNY, Ms. Ellis served for six years as the President and CEO of both the Meals on Wheels Foundation of Western New York, Inc. and Meals on Wheels for Western New York, Inc. Her professional journey includes six years as Chief Development and Communications Officer for Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, an internationally renowned basic biomedical research facility. Additionally, she spent a decade as Vice President of the Internal and Corporate Communications Departments at M&T Bank, a Fortune 500 financial institution. She also dedicated five years to working with the New York State Senate and the Erie County Legislature.

Ms. Ellis is an active participant in national, state, and local boards. Her current roles include Chair of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP), Immediate Past President of the Meals on Wheels Association New York State, and member of the Feeding New York State Board. She is also part of Buffalo Seminary Alumnae Association, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels America, and Junior League of Buffalo. In addition to these roles, Ms. Ellis has volunteered for various community-based organizations including the recently restructured Regional Advisory Council for the WNY Regional Food System Initiative.

Throughout her career, Ms. Ellis has received numerous recognitions such as annual inclusion since 2012 in Business First's Power 250 and Power 200 Women lists; a 2022 Community Impact Award; recognition as a 2022 Buffalo Bills-Highmark Community Hero; recipient of the 2022 Susan Reid Greene Russell Junior League of Buffalo Award; honoree of the 2021 Leadership Buffalo Values Awards; recipient of a 2021 Community Impact Award from the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and being named a 2020 Woman of Influence by Buffalo Business First.

Ms. Ellis holds a Master's degree in Public Communications from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo.