School children

The United Fresh Start Foundation has announced the launch of a three-year fundraising campaign that aims to secure US$5m in commitments to support the foundation’s mission of increasing children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

The new campaign was announced by United Fresh chairman of the board Cindy Jewell in her chairman’s remarks during the United Fresh 2018 Opening General Session.

“As a non-profit, we’re dependent on the generous funding of our industry and other contributors committed to children’s health,” said Phil Muir, chairman of the Foundation’s board of trustees. “Long-term financial commitments will not only allow us to grow our impact today, but also build multi-year collaborations with other organisations that will grow and deepen our impact for years to come.”

“The United Fresh Start Foundation focuses on three core mission areas where it can make the most impact on our nation’s children: in schools, in communities and connecting our businesses to make a difference in local communities,” said Kate Olender, senior director of health and wellness.

The Foundation is best known for its flagship Salad Bars to Schools Program, which has placed over 5,000 salad bars in schools in all 50 states, benefitting nearly 3m children.

“What makes our Foundation successful is that we harness the power and passion of our entire industry to ensure kids can eat fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Olender.