Our History
An unwavering commitment to children worldwide
We were founded in 1997 by Eleanor Butt Crook and her late husband, Ambassador William H. Crook.
In a world of plenty, Eleanor has been motivated by a single vision
A world in which every mother can nourish her children.
The Eleanor Crook Foundation is the face of that effort. As of 2025, the Foundation has made over $100 million in grants. ECF's board now comprises three generations of Crook family members, all of whom share Eleanor’s resolve that every human being has the right to a life without hunger. She continues to shepherd the board as Founder and President Emeritus, and her grandson, William Moore, serves as its President and CEO. Will has become an important thought leader and a respected voice in the global malnutrition community.
Eleanor Crook with her grandson and the CEO of ECF, William Moore.
1905
In 1905, Eleanor’s grandmother, Florence Butt, opened a small grocery store on the ground floor of her family home in Kerrville, Texas.
1905-2005
Over the next hundred years, that tiny business grew to become the largest retailer and largest private employer in Texas: H-E-B. The company continues to be family owned, and Eleanor has served on the board for over 4 decades.
1964
Eleanor’s husband, William Crook, was an early part of President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s War On Poverty programs. He served as the national director of AmeriCorps VISTA, and later as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia. During their time in the U.S. Foreign Service, Eleanor and Bill became more exposed to the plight of the hundreds of millions of people suffering from extreme poverty and hunger.
1970 - 1989
In the midst of the Ethiopian famines of the 1970’s and 1980’s, Eleanor began engaging in advocacy efforts to raise public awareness about global malnutrition and encouraging American policymakers to act.
1997
In 1997, Eleanor and Ambassador Crook established the Eleanor Crook Foundation.
2017
At the 2017 Global Nutrition Summit in Milan, Italy, the Eleanor Crook Foundation pledged $100 million over the following decade to fight global malnutrition through research, policy analysis, and advocacy.
Today
The Foundation continues to grow thanks to the ongoing support of Eleanor and her three children and remains laser-focused on our mission and strategic goals. Eleanor continues to serve on H-E-B's board. It is now the 5th largest private company in the United States and operates 400+ stores in Texas and Mexico. H-E-B is known for its community involvement, emergency responses, and food banking leadership. The company ranked 3rd on Forbes' 2023 list of Best Brands for Social Impact, and was recently ranked "The Ultimate Texas Brand" by Texas Monthly.
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We’re looking for others who are obsessed with evidence, cost-effectiveness, and scaling solutions to end child deaths.