The United Fresh Start Foundation is pleased to announce the second round of recipients of its Community Grants Program. The Program advances the Foundation’s mission to increase children’s access to fresh fruit and vegetables. It extends the Foundation’s work beyond the school day, focusing on increasing access after school, on weekends, during summer breaks and in other creative venues.
More than 700 organizations applied for the community grants this year. Of those, ten organizations received community grants this summer, and the following ten organizations will benefit from this second round of funding:
• Alameda Boys and Girls Club (Alameda, CA)
• Albany Leadership Charter High School (Albany, NY)
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County (Jersey City, NJ)
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County (Seaside, CA)
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County (Richmond, IN)
• Children’s Hospital Foundation (Louisville, KY)
• Food Bank of the Rockies (Denver, CO)
• Gallatin Valley Farm to School (Bozeman, MT)
• HMC Food Pantry (Oceanside, CA)
• South Tulsa Community House (Tulsa, OK)
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring children can easily access fresh produce. That’s why our industry and Foundation is committed to supporting community-based organizations across the country that are developing creative ways of achieving our shared mission of a healthy future for our young people,” said United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel. “With our Community Grants Program, we’re learning about the great work already occurring in local communities, and how we can engage the fresh produce industry to support these, and new opportunities, to expand children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables.”
This second round of grant funding was made possible through a fundraising campaign initiated by Class 22 of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program. Members of Class 22 raised over $25,000 from friends, family, and industry peers, and announced the donation during their leadership program graduation ceremony at the United Fresh convention this past June.
“Most of us were already aware of the foundation’s salad bar program, but when we heard about the new Community Grants Program and the opportunity to support creative local programs that were providing children with access to fresh produce outside the normal school day, we knew immediately this was something we wanted to get behind and support,” said Adam Lytch, Operations Manager, L & M Companies, and a member of Leadership Class 22 who helped organize the fundraising effort.
“Helping to create environments where children can easily access fresh produce is important on many levels,” said Melissa Olsen, Director of National Accounts at Freshway Foods, and a member of Leadership Class 22 who helped lead this effort in support of the Foundation. “We’re excited about the Community Grants Program as a way to help children who may not have access to fresh produce at home, and put them on a path to a healthier future.”
In 2017, the Community Grants Program will provide $50,000 in grant funding, with a maximum grant of $2,500 per recipient. The program is benefitting an estimated 14,000 children in fourteen States and Washington, DC. The Foundation will seek to identify opportunities throughout the year to connect local produce industry members with Community Grants Program partners.
Contact:
Andrew Marshall
United Fresh
Tel: (202) 303-3407