Philadelphia Dunkin’ franchise owner Sonny Ho invests in School District children facing food insecurity to make eating healthy a little bit easier
PHILADEPHIA, PA — (NOV. 19, 2020) — The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia (The Fund) has been awarded $100,000 by the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to support the new Meaningful Meals program to provide Philadelphia families in low-income neighborhoods with boxes of healthy food.
At the launch event on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. outside of William Dick School (2498 W. Diamond St.), families can pick up 40-pound food boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy that will include QR codes (a two-dimensional barcode readable by smartphones) connecting to nutritional information, and recipes for preparing meals with food from the boxes. In addition to The Fund and the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, Meaningful Meals is made possible by Eat Right Philly and the Share Food Program as a participant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Boxes Program. Food distributions have already begun at several of the Meaningful Meals locations.
The $100,000 gift from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation is made possible thanks to Philadelphia-area Dunkin’ franchise owner Sonny Ho. Growing up in Philadelphia, Ho attended Parkway Program High School and Temple University. He began as a crew member at Dunkin’ and earned management positions that led him to become the CEO of his franchise network, Northeast Donut Shops Management Corp., which includes 45 local Dunkin’ restaurants and employs 900 team members. His donation through the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation will give back to the School District that once gave him so much and to the communities that have supported his businesses throughout the last 30 years.
“On behalf of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, it is an honor to contribute to the School District of Philadelphia’s Meaningful Meals program to uplift nutritional education and combat food insecurity,” said Ho. “It’s important for Dunkin’ to give back to the communities we serve, and I am proud to have the opportunity to help local students and families during these challenging times.”
Due to school closures and restrictions on crowd gatherings as a result of COVID-19, Philadelphians facing food insecurity – a longstanding issue throughout the city – have found it harder to access healthy foods. Food insecurity involves people who lack food, those whose diets are poor quality and those whose access to food is so uncertain that it causes stress.
“The need for collaboration and community engagement has never been stronger,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, President and CEO of The Fund. “That’s why we’re so grateful to Mr. Ho—one of our public school alums—the Northeast Donut Shops Management Corp., and the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. They understand that we have a responsibility to educate, support and inspire improved wellness so that School District of Philadelphia students and their families can live a healthy lifestyle and achieve their fullest potential. This can only be accomplished when we work together.”
Starting in December, families can sign up for a five-session series of virtual cooking classes from Eat Right Philly to create healthy and delicious meals with their food boxes, making Meaningful Meals an all-around collaborative experience and highlighting the valuable connections between access and education for families – and between health and academic success. As part of the classes, they will receive other dry goods, such as pasta and spices that are not available with the food boxes, as well as small pieces of cooking equipment such as pots, pans and utensils.
Food distribution occurs every two weeks with drive- and walk-up access. Site selection is based on equitable distribution to maximize student reach and prioritize areas of the city with the most need. The program has begun at the following schools and changes every other week:
● Franklin S. Edmonds (Northwest Philadelphia – 80th St. & Thouron St.)
● Southwark (South Philadelphia – 9th St. & Mifflin St.)
● Delaplaine McDaniel (South Philadelphia – 22nd St. & Moore St.)
● John M Patterson (Southwest Philadelphia – 70th St. & Buist Ave.)
● Edward Heston (West Philadelphia – 54th St. & Lancaster Ave.)
● William McKinley (North Philadelphia – 4th St. & Diamond St.)
● William Dick (North Philadelphia – 24th St. & Diamond St.)
To learn more and view the distribution schedule, visit https://tinyurl.com/meaningfulmeals. Information about other Dunkin’ and Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation community programs can be found at news.dunkindonuts.com/.
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About The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
The Fund is a nonprofit connecting the private sector with the School District of Philadelphia. We align investing partners – private foundations, corporations and businesses, community organizations and individual donors – with District leadership to achieve schools’ plans and strategies. There are three pillars to what we do: champion strategic priorities, manage funds and facilitate partnerships. By coordinating these efforts, The Fund helps students in the District succeed and reach their full potential.
About Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’ and the generosity of its franchisees, guests, vendor partners and employees, provides the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. The Foundation partners with food banks, children’s hospitals and nonprofit organizations to fund joyful environments and joyful experiences for kids when they need it most. Since 2006, the Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $30 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country. For more information, please visit www.bringjoy.org.
About Eat Right Philly
Eat Right Philly is the School District of Philadelphia’s nutrition and wellness program that is funded through the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). Designed to empower students and families with the tools they need for a lifetime, we aim to help schools and communities become places where the healthy choice is the easy choice – because healthy students are better learners.
About Share Food Program
Share Food Program is the largest-serving hunger relief organization in the Philadelphia region, and one of the largest independent food banks in the nation, working to eradicate food insecurity through food distribution, education and advocacy. In quality partnerships with nearly 800 schools and 150 community-based pantries across the region, Share Food Program serves more than one million family members and neighbors in need, throughout Philadelphia and surrounding counties, each month.
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Barbara Beck
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