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Message ANNUALREPORT2023-24OCTOBER 2023-SEPTEMBER 2024
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LETTER FROM THE CEOToday, ten years later, FoodRight has growninto a thriving organization with a dedicatedteam of six (and plans to hire two more!),and a stronger-than-ever board. Ourprograms now include standards-alignedlessons for students from kindergartenthrough high school, along with virtuallessons and ingredient kits that have helpedthousands of families cook more whole-plant meals at home.Thanks to the energy and generosity of ourvolunteers—including two new corporatepartners and students from the MedicalCollege of Wisconsin—we taught more than1,200 students to cook during the 2023–24school year.We ended the year with the best kind ofnews: FoodRight received funding to expandour work beyond the classroom and intoschool cafeterias through the Good SchoolFood Project. A dream 20 years in themaking, this initiative will bring fresh, locallysourced, scratch-cooked meals thatstudents love—made possible by ourpartnership with Milwaukee Public Schoolsand our collaboration with parents, students,teachers, local producers, chefs, and schoolfood experts.Thank you for being part of this journey.Together, we’re not just teaching kids how tocook, we’re transforming the food system–creating schools and communities wherethe healthy choice is the easy choice.With gratitude,Lisa KingeryFounder & CEODear FoodRight supporters,FoodRight has grown in ways I neverimagined back in 2014, when I thought tomyself, “Let me start a nonprofit thatchanges how kids eat. How hard can thatbe?” Back then, it was just me, my nutritioneducation dreams, and my kitchen table asan office. I wore every hat—luggingequipment, writing lessons, buying food,teaching kids, even building the website.But even at the start, I didn’t do it alone.Talented interns worked tirelessly alongsideme, developing and implementing lessons.Generous philanthropists believed in themission before we were even an officialnonprofit. Teachers championed our work,opening their classrooms so I could test newideas. And you—whether you've supportedus from the beginning or joined somewherealong the way—helped bring FoodRight tolife with your time, talent, and treasure.LISA KINGERYFounder & CEO2
FROM THE BOARD CHAIRWithin these pages, you will read the storiesof the people that help make the programscome to life, see the smiles of the childrendiscovering delicious and healthy foods, andsee the impact FoodRight is having in ourcommunity. Whether via our virtual offeringsor through the more than 50 classrooms andover 1,200 students that we reached last year,the impact of your support is tangible andprofound.The Board of Directors remains deeplycommitted to sound governance, financialstewardship, and mission-focused growth ofthe organization. Our focus this past yearincluded adding three new board members,developing robust marketing plans topromote our mission, and expanding ourpresence within a new location that will allowfor additional outreach into the community. Looking ahead, we recognize that the needfor our services remains significant. Obesityand food insecurities continue to be a criticalissue in Milwaukee and we are determined tobuild upon the successes of the past yearand to continue to serve and adapt to meetthe needs of our community. We invite you to delve into this report andwitness the power of collective action. We aredeeply grateful for your support and lookforward to continuing this important worktogether in the year ahead.With sincere appreciation,Matt Wieck FoodRight Board President Dear FoodRight Supporter,As the current President of the Board ofDirectors, I have the distinct honor ofsharing with you this annual reporthighlighting the many accomplishmentsand impact FoodRight has had over thepast year.Over the last 6 years that I have been partof the FoodRight Board, I have witnessedfirst hand the tremendous growth andsuccess that FoodRight has had reachingthe youth of Milwaukee. On behalf of theentire Board, I want to say thank you to thestaff for their unwavering dedication and tothe many volunteers and donors for theirtireless efforts and generous gifts. You haveenabled FoodRight to continue our vitalmission of empowering our youth to makehealthy food choices.MATT WIECKBoard President3
OUR WHYA world with a fair and equitable food system where all people thrive throughaccess to wholesome food and quality educationFoodRight empowers youth to choose foods that sustain life-long healthVISIONAt FoodRight we believe that every child deserves the opportunity for life-longhealth—no matter their zip code. Our work is rooted in the belief that equity startswith education and access, and that real, lasting change grows from the insideout: from students, to families, to communities, and into the systems that shapeall of our lives.Our mission and vision drive our purpose, the work, and impact that we’veachieved together.MISSIONROOTED IN EQUITY.GROWING IN PURPOSE. 4
511,215ClassroomsK5-12thStudentsLearned to Cook707Meals Cookedin the Classroom2023-24ImpactHighlightsTrowbridge SchoolH. W. Longfellow SchoolMacDowell MontessoriVictory Immersion SchoolClara Mohammed School Samuel Clemens SchoolForest Home Avenue School Milwaukee Parkside School Maryland Avenue MontessoriCOA Youth & Family RiverwestNeu-LifeBecause of your support, over 1,200 Milwaukee students learned to cook nutritious, plant-based meals from scratch this year. Whether they were chopping fresh vegetables in aclassroom, harvesting herbs from a school garden, or cooking at home with their families,students gained real-life skills that will serve them for a lifetime.Your generosity made it possible to bring FoodRight’s dynamic, hands-on programs intodozens of schools and community sites across Milwaukee—helping young people explorenew foods, practice essential culinary techniques, and develop lifelong habits rooted inhealth and confidence.You didn’t just support a program.You helped create a movement.2023-24 PARTNER SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONSCarver Academy Golda Meir SchoolLloyd Barbee MontessoriBrown Street AcademyHawthorne SchoolTeens Grow GreensFEEDING MINDS.FUELING CHANGE.5
SWEETSUCCESS!During the 2023–24 school year, Mason wasa 1st grader in FoodRight’s Growing Chefsfor the first time. But you wouldn’t haveknown it when he picked up his knife andstarted expertly slicing up a bell pepper.That’s because this wasn’t Mason’s firstFoodRight program. He had been cookingwith our equipment, making our recipes,and learning where food comes from theyear before, with his K5 teacher inFoodRight’s Youth Chef Academy–Primaryprogram.Mason, like hundreds of other students atMacDowell Montessori (a K–12 MPS school),is on track to participate in every singleFoodRight program before he graduates.After Growing Chefs in third grade, he’llmove on to Youth Chef Academy for upperelementary students, and then to YouthChef Academy for 7th & 8th graders, wherehe’ll use real chef’s knives and cook evenmore independently than he does now.MacDowell Montessori is currently the onlyschool that implements our full suite ofprograms, giving students like Mason a rich,hands-on food education experience fromtheir early years through middle school. Butthis is just the beginning.Our vision is to reach all 70,000 MilwaukeePublic Schools students—giving every childthe opportunity to learn how to cook, enjoyhealthy whole-plant foods, and build thefoundation for lifelong health.Thanks to your support, that vision is withinreach. We can’t wait to follow Mason and allhis classmates on their culinary journeys asthey continue to grow with FoodRight.MASON’S JOURNEY5442By the time Mason finishes 8grade he’ll have...thhours of culinary & nutritioneducation with hands-oncooking experienceglobally-inspired, plant-basedrecipes cooked from scratch &eaten with his classmates6
FROMCLASSROOMTO KITCHENAt FoodRight, we believe in creating cooksfor life. Our students don’t just follow recipes—they discover flavor, nutrition, confidence,and the joy of preparing meals forthemselves and their families.Here’s what one student, Penny, had to sayabout her experience:“When FoodRight came to my school, Ithought we were going to be makingboring things like carrot spears and half-cooked beans. But on the first day, welearned about all of the food groups andwhy it’s important to eat healthy. We evenlearned that people can eat a vegetariandiet and still be healthier than people whoeat meat.Then we started cooking! The salsa was sogood, and we got to choose how spicy wemade it. We did geography lessons aboutwhere our recipes came from. My momloved the Jamaican Jerk Popcorn[pictured] we made at home. And theSouthwest Corn Fritters were super helpfulwhen it was my turn to make dinner.The recipes were simple, easy, and reallytasty. I’m thankful Miss Bria exposed me toall of this. I hope we get to do it again nextyear.”Thanks to you, students like Penny arediscovering the power of healthy food—andsharing it with their families.PENNY’S STORY1,8504,131Healthy meal kits sent homewith students Family members that cookedtogether at home7
POWEREDBY PEOPLEVolunteers120+*Based on Independent Sector 2023 rate of $33.49/hrHours Given700In VolunteerTime$23K*Because of you, our mission comes to life.Whether you're chopping veggies in aclassroom, packing ingredient kits, sharingculinary skills with students, or strategizing inthe boardroom, your time and energymade this year possible. We truly couldn’tdo this work without you — and we wouldn’twant to. You make the difference. In 2023–24, more than 120 volunteers gaveover 700 hours of their time—supportinglessons, building community, and helping usreach over 1,200 students across Milwaukee.Your impact was not only felt—it wasmeasured in smiles, shared meals, andlife-changing moments.CELEBRATING OURVOLUNTEERSWhether you’re from the community, a FoodRightparent, or a corporate volunteer, you make all of thispossible through your time and dedication to ourmission and students!Thank you!CHORUS COMMUNITY HEALTH PLANSCAMPBELL’S, FRANKLIN, WIKOHL’S CARESALTO SHAAMMEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSINUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEEMARQUETTE UNIVERSITYMOUNT MARY UNIVERSITY8
Christine A Symchych & James P McNulty Charitable FundKrogerTracey Anton & Doug Brejcha Terence & Alice Keenan Lisa Kingery*Stacy & Brian Bartsch*Brico Fund Ben Knaup (In Kind) Knorr Brooks & Heather HolteyRobert & Dara StockingerScott Allen* Matt Wieck* Meagan Schultz* Becky & Mark Riebesehl Catherine Haynes Wuthrich Jennifer & Robert BraaschSarda Family Fund Laura Bercier & Robert MarinKatie & Jeff Ripple Angie Baumer Kelli Gabel Jake & Kailyn Garro Deborah Deacon Lisa & JJ LaDue Melissa & Jim GehlRobin Higgins Huma Asghar* Jacob LeeAjay & Diana Ganju Luke & Meike Mansfield Jay Davidson* Craig & Catherine Armstrong Josh & Jessica Hunt Mary & Jim SchneiderMaryanne Riege* Nicole & Dan WeberSteve Smith & Carol RaymondsDustin & Kristen Fix Kent & Ellen Smith Campbell’s Soup Co, Franklin Shannon Pogodzinski Joe Amato Anne SteinbergAdam & Katie Gleisner DONORSJody & Andy Bath Kathleen Berry Kerry & Drew Feely Kate & Pat Hurley Jeffrey & Jana Owsianny Heather & Ted Pechacek Roland Daneau Tricia & Mike Binder Nils Dillon* & Lindsey Kanter Dillon Al Wolf Cheryl Mealey Matthew Phillips Betty MyersNanci Higgins-RamsdenNicole & Brian Lammi Margaret Teisl Leslie & Adam Krueger Mara AbrahamKaren AkersBryan BlakeQuinn CoryTim Cotter Jacqueline DreyerLauren & Andrew GlaserDotty GriggsBrian HigginsBarbara JanssenRebecca KempfertJesse LipsonSean MackmanKaarina MarsiliEllie Martin CliffeDebra McRobertsStephani MeyerAshley MeyerBryan MeyerMaire Cait MullenJamie MullenMatt & Marcy MurphyMary NolinskeAnita NykazaAshley PrestiSea RamsdenMaggie ReiterJosh RheinMaggie RoethleAngela SartoriJanis SchmittRyan & Ellie SmithJulie & Mike TerwelpWendy TerwelpKaren TredwellAmanda & Colin WagnerMorgan WilbanksDianne Williams*asterisks denotes FoodRight Board MembersEvery gift listed here represents a seed planted—ina classroom, a kitchen, a child’s future. Thank youfor believing in the power of food and education togrow a more just and equitable world.Thank you!9
Capacity12%Programs88%BOARD OF DIRECTORSMatt WieckBoard PresidentAssociate VicePresident—AscensionNils DillonTreasurerDirector, MarketStrategist—Lido AdvisorsMonique AbujanaPrincipal of Brown StreetAcademy—MilwaukeePublic SchoolsMichelle Morris-CarterVP, GovernancePrincipal of Golda MeirSchool—Milwaukee PublicSchoolsStacy BartschVP, External Affairs Vice President of Marketing& Communications—BettyBrinn Children’s MuseumHuma AsgharPhysician—FroedtertHealth Kelly CantwellSecretaryHuman ResourcesLead—Cortico Jay DavidsonManaging Director—PwCMeagan SchultzWriter & Podcaster—Cream City DreamsPodcastMaryanne RiegeRetired NutritionCounselor Scott AllenCorporate Counsel—Global ConsumerGoods CompanyOFFICERSMEMBERS2023-24 FINANCIALSUMMARY &EXPENSESIncome$562,140.00Corporate DonorsFoundationsGovernment GrantsIndividual DonationsEarned Income for Services$11,000$25,000$405,999$67,432$52,720$471,239.00ExpensesCapacity Programs $58,741$412,498Lisa KingeryFoodRight CEO Ex officio10
BE PART OF THE CHANGEPhoneEmailWebsiteSocial media414-286-7656info@foodright.orgwww.foodright.org@FoodRightIncFOODRIGHTYour support makes everything we do possible—from sparking a child’s love ofcooking to shifting how schools serve food. Whether you’re new to our mission or havebeen with us from the beginning, we invite you to stay involved.Join us in the classroom. Volunteer at an event. Help us advocate for healthy schoolfood. However you show up—we’re grateful you’re here.