2026 Food Heroes

Amelia Cho is the founder and executive director of Mindful Meals, a nonprofit organization that addresses the growing need for more nutritious food options in underserved communities. Mindful Meals works to expand access to fresh, nutritious food while promoting the connection between healthy living and stronger communities. Amelia’s leadership and advocacy have helped advance the organization’s mission through partnerships with local farmers, community organizations, and volunteers to increase nutrition awareness, support equitable food access, and inspire meaningful action toward a more food-secure future for all.

Fungi For Future was founded by Gloria Chi as an innovative sustainability initiative that transforms used coffee grounds from local cafés in Bloomington, Ind, into mushroom-growing substrate, creating fresh, locally grown food for communities in need while reducing waste. With an initial $1,500 investment, she has repurposed more than 122 pounds of coffee grounds, equivalent to nearly 3,900 cups of coffee, advancing sustainable food production and responsible consumption. Gloria also amplifies climate solutions as the creator and host of Grow With Glo, a podcast featured on WFHB Community Radio that reaches more than 15,000 listeners and highlights the work of environmental innovators and social entrepreneurs driving positive change.

Jack Ford and Ranvir Gill are executive team members of Food4Philly, a nonprofit created to combat food insecurity through student-led action. Through fundraising initiatives, volunteer service projects, and community partnerships, they have built a mission-driven organization dedicated to expanding food access and creating meaningful impact. The organization also launched the Food4Philly Impact Fund, a student-managed investment portfolio designed to support the organization’s long-term growth and sustainability while advancing its commitment to fighting hunger.

After recognizing that individuals with food allergies often lacked safe food options at local pantries, Jared founded Pack the Pantry to make food assistance more accessible and inclusive. Through his nonprofit, he developed allergen safety protocols, including multilingual educational materials identifying the top nine allergens, and has helped more than 630 food pantries adopt these practices. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Jared continues to raise awareness and resources to ensure everyone has safe access to the food they need.

Founded and led by Jingam Park, Voluntas Juvenium is committed to making community service accessible to students from all backgrounds while empowering the next generation of changemakers. Under his leadership, the organization has grown into a global network of more than 1,700 members across 17 countries, contributing over 20,000 volunteer hours to initiatives ranging from food banks to community outreach programs. Through Voluntas Juvenium, Jingam is helping cultivate leadership, empathy, and civic engagement among young people while creating meaningful impact in communities around the world.

As a leader on We Cancerve’s all-youth board, Nael has expanded the organization’s efforts to provide nutritious food and support to vulnerable children. He spearheaded the largest Snack Attack drive in the program’s history, mobilizing more than 120 volunteers to pack over 600 snack bags for children living in temporary shelters. He also enhanced We Cancerve’s Eggstra Special Easter initiative by ensuring more than 500 children received healthy food options alongside traditional holiday treats and educational materials. Through his leadership, Nael continues to promote nutrition, service, and community engagement while helping meet the needs of children and families facing hardship.

Prakhya Koya founded Leap4u with the belief that no one should go hungry and no food should go to waste. Leap4u has four programs: Zero Hunger, Zero Waste, Zero Poverty, and Mental Health all focused on providing food and transforming it into hope for communities, ensuring that every individual has access to a nutritious meal. To date, Prakhya has rescued over 30,000 pounds of food and provided more than 70,000 meals to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Her work has also encouraged community engagement, accumulating over 2,000 volunteer hours.

What started as a family co-founded nonprofit, The Birthday Giving Program brings joy, dignity, and recognition to children, adults, seniors, and veterans facing adversity. Serving more than 150 nonprofit organizations across 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Sierra Leone, the program partners with homeless shelters, food pantries, churches, nursing homes, hospitals, and other community agencies to provide birthday celebration bags and gifts for individuals who might otherwise go uncelebrated. By filling a critical gap left by limited nonprofit budgets, The Birthday Giving Program ensures that thousands of people each year feel valued, remembered, and celebrated on their special day.