Carlos Abad

My name is Carlos Abad, and I’m the co-founder of Food4KidsNJ. As a retired entrepreneur, I’ve dedicated this chapter of my life to helping end childhood food insecurity in New Jersey.

My story begins when my parents immigrated from Ecuador to the United States with two young children, $50, and only a handful of acquaintances. Life was difficult, we moved often, and as a child I relied on free school meals to get by. Over time, I watched my mother build a successful small business and my father earn his PhD. Their journey showed me the power of resilience, perseverance, and hard work.

Following their example, I married my high school sweetheart and became a father of three daughters by the age of 22. I had no degree and little life experience, but I had a strong work ethic. Like my parents, I worked countless jobs, learning through trial and error until I was able to create a stable and fulfilling life. Today, I am grateful to live in a wonderful community, own rental properties, enjoy traveling, and spend much of my time with my grandsons.

Looking back, I don’t regret my choices, but I do wish I had more life knowledge when I was just starting out. As a father, I was able to share those lessons with my daughters, and I’ve seen how much it helped them succeed. That’s why my top priority with Food4KidsNJ is ensuring no child goes hungry. Just as important, I want to help young people gain the life knowledge and skills I wish I had when I began my adult journey.