Caritas of Waco Announces Co-Executive Directors

Press release – The Board of Directors for Caritas of Waco is pleased to announce the appointments of Alicia Jallah and Ann Owen as Co-Executive Directors of the nonprofit devoted to providing urgent support to people in need. Jallah and Owen will succeed Buddy Edwards, who is retiring at the end of May after serving the organization as Executive Director since 2008.

“We are grateful for Buddy’s leadership throughout his tenure with Caritas and wish him well as he nears retirement. The Board is excited with the talent and experience Alicia and Ann bring to the position and we look forward to working with them,” said Cindy Wood, President.

Jallah earned her Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry from Denver Seminary and her Bachelors Degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She joined the Caritas staff in 2018 as an Assistant Executive Director. Before coming to Caritas, Jallah was Executive Director of the Lamar County Food Pantry in Paris, Texas.  

“I am thrilled to be leading Caritas with Ann and working alongside the hardworking volunteers, staff and board of directors. We are committed in the fight against food insecurity and poverty so that those who are vulnerable among us can hold onto hope. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Buddy for his strength in leadership and legacy of kindness and compassion.”

Owen holds an AAS in Data Processing with a minor in Business from McLennan Community College and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Baylor University. She joined Caritas in April of 2014 as Development Director before becoming an Assistant Executive Director in 2018.

“I am excited and honored for the opportunity to work alongside Alicia in leading Caritas. We are poised to build on the momentum created by Buddy’s leadership. We have an outstanding staff who are dedicated to helping those in need and I look forward to working with each of them, as well as our board of directors and many volunteers, in the fight to eliminate food insecurity and poverty in this great community of ours.”

About Caritas of Waco: The mission of Caritas is to provide urgent support to people in need in our community.  Caritas is supported by the generosity of individual and corporate donations, charitable foundations, faith communities, civic and service organizations, and the United Way of Waco-McLennan County. For more information, call Caritas of Waco at 254-753-4593 or visit our website at www.caritas-waco.org.