Former U.S. Ambassador and U.S. Representative Tony P. Hall is one of the leading advocates for hunger relief programs and improving international human rights conditions in the world. As the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Ambassador Hall was responsible for "putting into action America's commitment to alleviate hunger and build hope in the world." 

Prior to entering the diplomatic corps, Mr. Hall was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the Third District of Ohio for almost 24 years. He was also founder and chairman of the Congressional Hunger Center, a non-governmental organization dedicated to fighting hunger by developing leaders. Ambassador Hall received his A.B. degree from Denison University, in Granville, Ohio and taught English in Thailand as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1966 to 1967. Ambassador Hall returned to Dayton to work as a realtor and small businessman for several years.

He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998, 1999, and 2001 for his humanitarian and hunger-related work. Ambassador Hall is a recipient of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF 1995 Children's Legislative Advocate Award, USAID Presidential End Hunger Award, 1992 Oxfam America Partners Award, Bread for the World Distinguished Service Against Hunger Award, and the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award. He received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Asbury College, Antioch College and Eastern College and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Loyola College. 

Thomas Evert “Tom” Petri was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District from 1979 to 2015. Petri served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1973 to 1979. After earning his law degree from Harvard University, Petri was a clerk to U.S. District Court Judge James Doyle. 

He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia from 1966 to 1967, and from 1969 to 1970 served as a White House aide during the presidency of Richard Nixon. After leaving public office, Petri became involved in political reform efforts, including joining nine other former members of Congress to co-author a 2021 opinion editorial advocating reforms of Congress. In 2014, Petri received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold, and Silver Star, Japan's second highest civilian honor, for his work to improve relations between the United States and Japan. In 2015, Petri was made an honorary officer in the Order of the British Empire for his work on trans-Atlantic issues.

Mike Ward is president of Ward Campaigns, Inc. and currently works as a volunteer senior advisor to Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. Ward was appointed by President Bill Clinton as an Associate Director of the Peace Corps and served through Clinton's second presidential term. 

He served as a U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1995-1997 and previously as State Representative to the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1989-93. Rep. Ward’s political work has ranged from door-to-door organizing to managing county and city-wide races, including successful campaigns for mayor of Louisville, KY.

Since leaving elective office, Mike has served in strategic and operational roles for a wide range of election campaigns for ballot issue questions, tax levy, and candidates’ campaigns.

He and his wife, Tina Heavrin, served in the 1970s as Peace Corps Volunteers in The Gambia have two sons and five grandchildren, all of whom live in Louisville.