Meet our Harvest Honorees

 

HONOREE: MR. FORD HAMILTON

President and Chief Executive Officer of Wood Fruitticher FoodserviCE

Buckner W. (Ford) Hamilton, III is President and Chief Executive Officer of Wood Fruitticher Foodservice, a fourth generation, family owned, broadline foodservice distributor servicing restaurants, schools, and the healthcare industry across 6 states in the southeastern United States. Prior to joining Wood Fruitticher in 1997, he worked in the trucking industry, first for Birmingham based Hall Systems and then for Montgomery based Alabama Food Service.  

Ford is a 1995 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and a 1991 graduate of Mountain Brook High School. Ford serves on Cornerstone’s Board of Directors and the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.  He is an avid supporter of Scholarships for Kids, a scholarship granting organization dedicated to providing educational options to families that wish to provide better opportunities for their children, and is a member of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club, a 75 year old organization with a mission to raise funds for children’s health charities.  

Ford is married to the former Katherine Wood of Birmingham and they have two children, Elizabeth (21) and Wood (19).  He is an active member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and in his free time, he enjoys traveling with his family, and playing golf and tennis.

 

 

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:

MRS. MELINDA HOUSE HELVESTON, CIVIC VOLUNTEER

Melinda House Helveston was born in Birmingham, attended Banks High School and graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Public Relations. She worked in the News and Corporate Information/Public Relations department for The Southern Company in Atlanta for 10 years. 

Melinda faithfully serves on the Cornerstone Women’s Service Board and the Board of Directors. For five years, she has been the Harvest of Hope Auction Committee chairperson. She serves as the President of the Ballet Women’s Committee and the Vestavia Hills Garden Club.  She also sits on numerous boards, including Sozo Children, UAB School of Nursing Board of Visitors, University of Alabama School of Communication and Information Sciences Board of Visitors, and our very own Cornerstone Women’s Service Board. She is an advocate, a generous supporter, and a friend to all.

She and her husband, Ron (Bubba), have 4 children and attend Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church.