Mary Levtzow

Mary “Cares Much” Levtzowh as participated in the Walk for Hunger for over 20 years alongside her service dog, Chico José. For the last 13 years, Mary has led the Lutherans Against Hunger team, now known as Hunger Warriors, and has raised more than $15,000 annually!

From 2016 to 2018, Mary generously supported Walk for Hunger& 5K Run as an Event Sponsor. In 2019, Mary became Presenting Sponsor for the Walk for Hunger & 5K Run—a sponsorship that has continued to 2021!

Recognizing the great need for local hunger relief —particularly for children —Mary has made it her mission to build healthier, hunger-free communities.

“Most importantly, the Walk for Hunger helps people feel respect, dignity, and worth. Hunger Network meets people where they are,” says Mary. “The staff and volunteers of Hunger Network’s Centers will walk the extra mile to help you.”

In 2019, Mary was inducted into Hunger Network’s Guardians Society for her donations totaling $48,000 —an equivalent of nearly 200,000 meals for local children, families, and seniors.

In addition to her fundraising and advocacy efforts for the Walk for Hunger, Mary collects non-perishable food every single week as she leads Mary’s Food Friends at Westlake’s St. Paul Lutheran Church in assisting 22 local food programs from Lorain to Painesville—a legend by any definition!

For Mary, supporting Hunger Network is not just about providing food —it is about being a servant to others. Apart from fueling Hunger Network’s mission, Mary tutors students from numerous local schools. A former Math Teacher at North Ridgeville Junior High School, Bay Middle School, Messiah Lutheran Elementary School, Lorain Community College, and Math Department Head at Lutheran West High School, Mary is committed to enriching the next generation. Her teaching and involvement in building student leadership on the local and state levels are legends along with winning National Awards for Bay Middle School, Westlake’s Holly Lane Elementary School, and The Westlaker Times newspaper group through the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

“Every person is important and worthy of assistance, dignity, food, and education,” states Mary. “That human value is why the Walk for Hunger means so much to me. Each person counts as you make a difference in the lives of others. ”Mary “Cares Much” and Service Dog Chico José invite you to celebrate the awesome Love, creative Generosity, and dynamic spirit of Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland’s founding Executive Director/CEO Dana Irribarren who lost her battle against cancer in 2015 by registering for the Hybrid 33rd Annual Walk for Hunger & 5K Run today at hungernetwork.org.

It is true —Mary cares so very much. We are constantly in awe of her passion for food justice and her endless will to giveback to our Cleveland communities!