Atlanta based nonprofit Purple Pansies is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Brown, former President of the Atlanta Division, The Kroger Co. as a new board member. He will help support the nonprofit foundation in their fight to end pancreatic cancer. 

Tim has been a passionate supporter of Purple Pansies since 2009, he has seen the catastrophic effect cancer has had on close friends and family. It is a personal mission for him to bring awareness and support to victims of cancer. In 2021, Tim was the recipient of the inaugural Pillars of Hope Bill Palmer Legacy award for his dedication and service to the organization. 

"We are excited to expand our board, and Tim brings new expertise and great insight to our work," said Purple Pansies Founder Maria Fundora. "Our board members are business professionals and individuals that have either been touched by pancreatic cancer in some way or want to make a difference in our community by giving back to others."

Having worked at Kroger for 44 years since 1977, Brown has held leadership positions in nine of Kroger's retail divisions. He was responsible for 183 Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama that employ close to 28,000 associates prior to retiring in 2022. He also supports other community and non-profit organizations in the Metro Atlanta area. 

At Purple Pansies, Brown will join four other volunteer board members, Maria Fundora, founder and Chair; Janice Chalovich, secretary; Pepe Fundora, vice president; and Jana Bledsoe, treasurer. The board members lead and monitor financial and operational health and compliance, lead fundraising, program and partnership coordination, volunteer recruitment and supervision, and all operational and administrative tasks.

“I am honored and thrilled to be a part of this wonderful board and to be associated with such a great cause,” said Tim Brown. “Over my many years with Kroger, I’ve seen and heard about so many of our associates or family members effected by some form of cancer. While we have had the great opportunity to support Purple Pansies and help with the fight to find a cure, it’s now our time to be an even stronger advocate. I like to think of my retirement time as returnment time. My wife Angie and I are excited to be with this awesome team now, and for many years to come.”