OAKLAND, Calif. – Net Impact is excited to announce the successful completion of its first-ever Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge. Nearly 100 students on 25 teams across 21 campuses took part in the program, including participants from the University of the Virgin Islands. The teams were selected in January from a larger pool of applicants. Each team was then given modest funding, provided by a $100K grant from the Newman’s Own Foundation, to initiate a nutrition-based project, either on campus or in the surrounding community. In addition, a mentor with a corporate, non-profit, community, or higher-education background was paired with each team to provide expert guidance throughout the spring semester– the designated timeframe for launching and running each project.
“The ideas that were generated and the quality of the teams’ work serve as true testaments to the commitment these students have to change the world,” said Liz Maw, CEO of Net Impact. “If they can accomplish this level of progress even before graduation, imagine what they’re going to do as they continue their careers.”
The teams focused on a wide variety of issues, from food waste to general nutrition access. Equally diverse were the methods that students relied upon to solve these problems. Transfernation, from New York University, for example, developed an app to allow the organizers of large events, such as corporate luncheons, galas and conferences, to send out push notifications when they have leftover food from a gathering. Transfernation volunteers armed with smart phones can then intercept the messages and take charge to get the surplus where it needs to go. To date, the NYC-based team has rescued 12,500 pounds of food before it’s gone to the dumpster.
Transfernation co-founder Samir Goel said the most rewarding part of his participation in the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge has been seeing the quality of food they are able to provide to the shelter system. “I’m also grateful for all the incredible people we’ve been able to meet along the way, from our partner organizations to volunteers to people who rely on the shelters we work with.”
FreshSpire, out of North Carolina, also developed new technology to be able to simultaneously solve the issues of food waste and scarcity. The app alerts users when local grocery stores are marking down perishables, such as meat, bread and produce, so that the food doesn’t get thrown out and low-income families can buy groceries that might normally be outside their budget. The five-woman team actually began working on the business plan while still in high school. Now split across four different college campuses, their participation in the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge has been among other things inspiring.
“The most rewarding part of this project has definitely been being a part of a group of people who are passionate about the same global problems,” said co-founder and East Carolina University student Mona Amin.
Taking a less virtual approach, four students from the University of Berkeley created the hands-on FoodInno, an organization that aims to get millennials involved in innovating the food industry. On campus, the group offers student-run classes that teach practical knowledge, such as how-to sessions on all things fermented, as well as give a wider understanding of the food industry, from best labor practices to responsible labeling. Off-campus, FoodInno’s hackathons have also been successful. The Berkeley-based chocolatier, TCHO, hosted one such event where 30 participants spent three hours working on new flavor ideas for the company’s Limited Edition Line; developed packaging for the product; described the void it would fill in the market and came up with a “flavor-forward marketing description.”
“The [Newman’s Own Foundation] Challenge is a great way for us to get an outside opinion on our work and gain insight from more experienced innovators,” said FoodInno co-founder and UC Berkeley student Cindy Ma.
Overall, the 91 total Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge participants reported a positive experience from taking part in the semester-long program. From the final survey:
- 74% of participants reported increased interest in nutrition-related career paths
- 83% of students improved their understanding of how to improve nutrition outcomes as a result of participating in the Challenge
- 87% of students would recommend participating in the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge to a friend or colleague
- 96% of students found the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge helpful in launching or accelerating their work
To learn more about some of the teams that participated in the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge, visit Net Impact’s website.
About the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge
In January 2016, Net Impact partnered with the Newman’s Own Foundation to launch this inaugural challenge. It was established to encourage college students across the country to engage in nutrition-related activities, either on campus or in their surrounding communities. Twenty-five teams were selected to participate and each was awarded $200 in order to further their stated goals for the project. In addition, each was assigned a mentor to provide expert guidance to each of the teams.
About the Newman’s Own Foundation
Newman’s Own Foundation is an independent, private foundation formed in 2005 by Paul Newman to sustain the legacy of his philanthropic work. Funded entirely through the profits and royalties of Newman’s Own products, the Foundation does not maintain an endowment, raise funds, or accept donations. The Foundation believes that each of us, through the power of philanthropy, has the potential to make a difference. Since 1982, when Paul Newman first declared, “Let’s give it all away,” more than $460 million has been donated to thousands of nonprofit organizations helping people in need around the world.
About Net Impact
Net Impact is the world’s best training ground for the next generation of change agents. Our programs— delivered from our headquarters in Oakland, CA, as well as globally through our 300+ chapters— connect our members to the skills, experiences and people that will allow them to have the greatest impact. With over 100,000 members, Net Impact takes on social challenges, protects the environment and orients business toward the greater good. In short, we help our members turn their passions into a lifetime of world-changing action. Visit www.netimpact.org