The Congressional Hunger Center is pleased to announce that Kraft Heinz and the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force will be recognized at this year’s Hunger Leadership Awards on June 12.
“It is my pleasure to present these two awards to organizations who are committed to working in partnership to bring an end to hunger,” said Executive Director Shannon Maynard. “When anyone experiences hunger, whether they’re in another country or just in the next county, we all suffer. This year’s corporate partner and community champion award recipients are exemplars of dedication to finding lasting solutions to food insecurity.”
Kraft Heinz and Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force will receive their awards alongside Outstanding Alum Hunger Leadership Award recipient Robert Campbell and Rising Star Alum Award recipient Bryan Pride, announced earlier this month.
Corporate Partner Award
The Corporate Partner Hunger Leadership Award is presented each year to an organization from the private sector making substantial contributions to end food insecurity in the U.S. and around the world. This year’s the Hunger Center recognizes Kraft Heinz for its enduring promotion of global food security through its philanthropic support of partners such as Rise Against Hunger.
Experts in hunger relief often face a dilemma in how best to spend limited resources and time: whether to meet the immediate needs of people experiencing hunger today, or to reduce the overall rate of food insecurity over time through policy and social change. Given the scope of the challenges facing our world, both efforts are necessary. Fortunately, partners like Kraft Heinz are providing support to relief organizations such as Rise Against Hunger, whose approach includes near- and long-term strategies for ending hunger and food insecurity for good.
Over the past decade, Kraft Heinz’s support of Rise Against Hunger’s meal packing program has touched millions of lives, helping children and families affected by food insecurity reach their full potential. Sachets of 18 essential vitamins and minerals, developed by Kraft Heinz food scientists and produced at scale to treat anemia and other nutrient deficiencies, have been included in 400 million meals Rise Against Hunger has packaged and sent to communities around the world.
But beyond the immediate relief of meals to families in need, Kraft Heinz also supports Rise Against Hunger’s focus on long-term solutions through sustainable agricultural development, education, local and regional sourcing of meals, and community programming in places like Malawi, Mali, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and India.
Kraft Heinz pursues its mission through strategic partnerships with organizations that have programs aligned with hunger relief, nutrition support, and self-sustaining food sources. Their work towards alleviating global hunger is deeply rooted in the collective determination of their Foundation partners, Kraft Heinz brands, and dedicated employees. Kraft Heinz employees from all corners of the world have passionately joined the Foundation’s work through annual volunteer efforts, underscoring the critical nature and immediacy in helping to alleviate world hunger. Kraft Heinz Foundation is currently focused on their goal of providing 1.5 billion meals to those in need by 2025.
Community Champion Award
The Community Champion Hunger Leadership Award is given to an individual or organization making substantial strides to eradicate hunger at the local level. This year, the Hunger Center recognizes the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force for their focus on collaboration and finding solutions to hunger rooted in community.
The Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force (IHRTF), founded in 2008, has worked tirelessly to ensure Idahoans are nutritiously cared for by starting, growing, and expanding the successful Idaho Produce Prescription Program. IHRTF’s director, Denise Dixon, was also instrumental in obtaining Summer P-EBT funds for Idahoans under the age of six. This summer, IHRTF is partnering with the Idaho Department of Education to expand summer feeding sites, including adding critical resource hubs in rural areas.
Gaps in understanding and missed opportunities for collaboration are a significant root cause of food insecurity in the U.S. Solving for these gaps is built into the programmatic two-placement structure of the Hunger Center’s fellowships and is a key component of our leadership development training. Convening organizations, such as the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force, play an essential role in bridging these gaps and fostering collaboration toward the shared goal of ending hunger, and we are pleased to recognize them as this year’s Community Champions.
About the Congressional Hunger Center
Founded in 1993 by a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, the Congressional Hunger Center fights hunger by developing leaders and advocating for public policies that will create a food-secure world. Through our Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship, Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship, Zero Hunger Internship, and online learning hub Zero Hunger Academy, the Hunger Center has trained thousands of leaders working across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors toward a day when all people have access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food.
About the Hunger Leadership Awards
The annual Hunger Leadership Awards bring together representatives from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and the wider anti-hunger community to recognize distinguished leaders who are working together toward a hunger-free future. This year’s Hunger Leadership Awards will be held on Wednesday, June 12, in Washington, D.C.