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Cedar’s Foods CEO Charles Hanna was recently named a recipient of the 2025 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, national recognition celebrating immigrant contributions and public service.
As a Lebanese immigrant, business leader and lifelong philanthropist, Hanna was recognized not only for transforming Cedar’s into a leading national Mediterranean foods brand, but for his commitment to giving back to the community, both domestically and abroad.
“At Cedar’s, we’ve always believed that food is a powerful way to bring people together, but giving back is what truly defines us,” says Hanna. “As someone who came to this country as an immigrant, I feel deeply honored to be recognized with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This is a celebration not just of my personal journey, but of our company’s shared values and commitment to making a difference.”
Over the past decade, Hanna spearheaded more than $20 million in charitable contributions through Cedar’s philanthropic platform, Cedar’s with Heart—an initiative he founded. Through the program, Cedar’s has donated millions of pounds of product both domestically and internationally, supporting more than 150,000 individuals and funding food security, youth development, women’s health and vocational training programs.
Starting with eliminating food insecurity among children in Cedar’s home state of Massachusetts, Hanna expanded Cedar’s with Heart’s mission to support causes across education, public safety, community development and international humanitarian efforts. Longtime partners include organizations such as the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, L’Arche Boston North and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
In 2025 alone, Cedar’s has contributed more than $300,000 to initiatives advancing education, equity, nutrition and community well-being—supporting organizations like the Indian Rock Park Fund, Haverhill Police Department, regional YMCAs, Emmaus House, UTEC, Creative Haverhill, Ruth’s House and L’Arche Boston North’s Culinary Program, among many others.
His humanitarian efforts in Lebanon also include rebuilding churches, stimulating the local economy through job creation, providing thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations and medications during the pandemic and funding critical infrastructure in his hometown of Karkha, including electricity, schools and heating systems.
Since taking the helm in the early 1990s, Hanna has transformed Cedar’s Foods from a small regional operation into the world’s largest hommus producer. The company has also grown into the second-largest food manufacturer in Massachusetts, operating a campus of five buildings totaling more than 500,000 square feet.