2024 STRATEGIC PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Power is Giving provides accessible whole food, plant-based (WFPB) restora=ve wellness educa=on and resources to BIPOC and veteran communi=es to dismantle systemic barriers to op=mal health, with our strategic priori=es centering on expanding our reach, improving health equity and encouraging lifestyle changes that transform lives.
MISSION STATEMENT
Provide 100% whole food, plant based (WFPB) clinical and culinary and nutri=on educa=on to BIPOC families and veterans that dismantle systemic barriers to access and wellness equity.
VISION STATEMENT
Thriving and equitable communi=es where BIPOC families and veterans experience op=mal wellness and enduring, intergenera=onal health-wealth.
OUR VALUES
We believe affordable access to 100% whole food, plant-based (WFPB) and healthy vegan nutri=on is a basic human right. Guiding principles like evidence-based science, equity, educa=on and cultural competency drive us as we work collabora=vely alongside clinicians, chefs and subject maNer experts to dismantle systemic wellness barriers like nutri=on redlining, which dispropor=onately impacts BIPOC families and veterans.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
Founded on the principle that wellness and access to fresh fruits and vegetables are fundamental human rights, Power is Giving has been dedicated to comba=ng systemic inequi=es like nutri=on redlining and food apartheid through a focus on BIPOC community mentorship, fitness, 100% whole food, plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle educa=on since 2011.
As nutri=on redlining represents deeply rooted racial and economic prac=ces that have normalized the denial of nutri=ve resource access, they have also spawned food apartheid communi=es and the crea=on of food swamps, which occur in geographic areas where retail abandonment has occurred and subsequently given way to an onslaught of convenience stores and fast-food outlets offering cheap, chronic disease promo=ng, highly processed foods.
Notably, a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Public Health also underscored the prevalence of food swamps in Black and Brown communi=es at a rate 3 =mes higher than more affluent communi=es, which further exacerba=ng chronic disease rates and health dispari=es.
As our presenta=on of evidence-based, whole food plant-based (WFPB) nutri=on exper=se and related clinical educa=on and culinary programming aligns with our commitment to equity and cultural competency, our vision for thriving, equitable communi=es where BIPOC families and veterans aNain op=mal and enduring intergenera=onal wellness will be achieved.
MILESTONES
2011-2012
Tennis Channel & Maria Sharapova winner, Maria Sharapova Foundation & United Nations $12k donation: Power is Giving, Inc. was formed
2012-2013
OUR PROGRAMS
2013-2015 -2019 2020-2021 2022-2023
EDD
Housed under the umbrella name "Eat, Drink, Disrupt ” (EDD), our programs are designed to combat wellness inequality through culturally tailored engagement and WFPB lifestyle empowerment.
1. EDD TENNIS: With a goal of ins=lling lifelong habits of WFPB health and wellness to combat childhood obesity, this free program engages BIPOC youth ages 6-16 in culturally resonant tennis training and fitness coaching. Led by former NCAA Division 1 & 2 tennis players and fitness experts, we combine physical ac=vity with introduc=on of healthy vegan meals, snacks, vegan recipe cards and opportuni=es to be matched with veteran & financial wellness mentors.
2. EDD TALKS: With a targeted BIPOC community leadership and veteran par=cipa=on focus, our free, 90-minute WFPB lunch and learn program includes an in-person or virtual, physician-led chronic disease preven=on and arrest presenta=on, Q & A with physician and local nutri=on expert, a chef prepared healthy and culturally resonant vegan lunch and evidence-based takeaway resources to support transi=on to a WFPB lifestyle.
3. EDD ROOTS: With a focus on in-person, onsite BIPOC church and/or community center program administra=on, EDD Roots provides free, 100% WFPB community cooking demos, group cooking classes and Veguca=on 101 PowerPoint presenta=ons where informa=on and resources regarding the health benefits of a WFPB lifestyle.
4. EDD HBCU TOWN HALL & TASTING: A new free program that focuses on engaging historically black colleges and universi=es (HBCU) students and faculty in dialogue about nutri=on, health equity, and the systemic challenges affec=ng food access while also being introduced to a culturally resonant and healthy vegan meal/tas=ng experience.
5. EDD SUMMIT: Targe=ng BIPOC and veteran communi=es, our ½ day program serves as a convergence point and call to ac=on that fosters health, nutri=on and financial wellbeing while providing BIPOC clinicians, entrepreneurs, chefs and subject maNer experts a plaiorm to reach and teach libera=on and empowerment.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Heart disease na=onally reigns as America's #1 killer, driving 1 in 4 deaths annually with cancer second claiming 600,000 ci=zens each year. Children are not spared with childhood obesity tripling since the 1990s, concentra=ng in lower-income Black and Hispanic youth at dispropor=onate crisis levels.
By age 80, almost half the US popula=on may live with at least one largely preventable, diet-fueled disease at current rates. Healthcare spending already accounts for nearly 20% of GDP (3.8 trillion) with taxpayers funding illness from profit-driven systems rooted in fostering health poverty. Intertwined with these disease burdens, alarming health dispari=es are concentrated among African American and La=no communi=es who die of heart disease, stroke and diabetes complica=ons 50%, 35% and 100% more respec=vely than white popula=ons.
At the county level, both Mecklenburg County NC and Greenville County SC report heart disease mortality rates for African American residents averaging 1.5 =mes higher, surveys indicate. Mecklenburg county African Americans living with type 2 diabetes are also double that of white residents. Obesity es=mates also afflict over 45% of Mecklenburg’s BIPOC ci=zens exacerba=ng suscep=bility to hypertension, cancers and debilita=ng joint diseases.
ROLE OF FOOD APARTHEID AND NUTRITION REDLINING
The systemic exclusion of marginalized BIPOC communi=es from affordable supermarkets and nutri=ous whole food outlets has led to severe forms of nutri=on redlining and food apartheid across America. With few op=ons beyond unhealthy fast-food chains and heavily processed convenience store items instead of fresh fruits and vegetables, condi=ons promo=ng diet-fueled chronic illness concentrate significantly in zip codes that remain socially disadvantaged by policy and business flight.
Yet research confirms implemen=ng educa=onal support pathways to nutri=on-dense ea=ng through an equity lens that confronts the ins=tu=onal barriers responsible for nutri=onal redlining delivers posi=ve, sustainable change - promising interven=on even amid alarming BIPOC health declines concentrated in areas with the least financial means and poli=cal influence to transform status quos alone. But allied communi=es can shir food system failures.
PRIORITY POPULATIONS
Power is Giving Inc. priori=zes BIPOC youth (ages 6-16) and adults (30+) in CharloNe, NC, Greenville, SC, and Spartanburg, SC, along with veterans, par=cularly those who are BIPOC or suffer from diet-related chronic illnesses in these areas.
This strategic focus acknowledges the unique nutri=onal and health challenges faced by these groups due to systemic food injus=ces, such as food apartheid and nutri=on redlining. The organiza=on's programs, tailored to address the specific needs of these priority popula=ons, aim to empower them with knowledge, access, and resources for a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, driving access to informa=on and resources that can bring about change in health outcomes and that promote nutri=onal equity.
REACH
Power is Giving's expansive programming strives to provide targeted BIPOC and veteran community accessible wellness educa=on while sparking interest in sustained lifestyle changes for popula=ons impacted by health inequi=es. Over =me, we have reached and informed thousands in North Carolina, South Carolina and New York on evidence-backed nutri=on strategies and food jus=ce issues.
CORE PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES IMPACT
5,000
4500
9 OUT OF 10
Participants were interested in either in practicin a whole ood, plant-based (WFPB) li estyle or in learnin more about how to make the transition a ter one o our pro rams or collaborative initiatives.
CUMULATIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Through our core programs and collabora=ve ini=a=ves, over 8,000 community members have received 100% whole food, plant-based (WFPB) wellness educa=on resources, with 9 out of 10 on conveying interest either adop=ng a WFPB lifestyle or a desire to learn more about how to do so arer par=cipa=ng in one of our programs or collabora=ve ini=a=ves.
PROGRAM IMPACT AND OUTCOMES
HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases
Research underscores a WFPB diet's role in lowering the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, condi=ons that dispropor=onately affect BIPOC popula=ons.
Improved Metabolic Health
Adop=on of WFPB principles can enhance metabolic health markers, directly impac=ng the community's overall well-being and longevity.
Enhanced Quality of Life
Beyond physical health, WFPB lifestyles contribute to beNer mood, increased energy levels, and improved sleep quality, factors cri=cal for holis=c health.
EducaQonal Impact
Provides essen=al knowledge on op=mal nutri=on, empowering individuals to make informed dietary and lifestyle choices.
Community Empowerment
Strengthens community bonds through shared learning experiences and support networks.
ECONOMY
Reduced Healthcare Costs
By promo=ng whole food, plant-based lifestyles, the programs can lower the prevalence of chronic diseases, poten=ally reducing healthcare expenses which are a significant part of the GDP.
Improved Public Health
With a focus on preven=on, arrest, and reversal of chronic illnesses, these ini=a=ves contribute to overall beNer health outcomes for the community.
ENVIRONMENT
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Plant-based diets are associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to diets high in animal products. By encouraging WFPB lifestyles, we help mi=gate climate change, offering a healthier planet for future genera=ons.
ConservaQon of Natural Resources
WFPB diets require less water and land, contribu=ng to the preserva=on of vital ecosystems. Our programs promote sustainable food choices that lessen the strain on these resources.
Biodiversity ProtecQon
Transi=oning toward plant-based ea=ng supports biodiversity by reducing the need for monoculture farming and preserving natural habitats.
As our dedica=on to WFPB lifestyle educa=on is about more than diet change; it's a form of resistance against the injus=ces that contribute to systemic wellness dispari=es.
2024 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES & GOALS
1. Expand WFPB and Vegan EducaQon
Extend accessible, culturally tailored, and evidence-backed WFPB educa=on to BIPOC and veteran communi=es dispropor=onately affected by health inequi=es. This includes enhancing outreach, developing educa=onal resources, and securing funding for program sustainability.
2. Improve Wellness Equity
Strategically dismantle barriers to WFPB lifestyle and healthy food access within BIPOC communi=es through advocacy, building community partnerships, and increasing opera=onal capacity with necessary funding.
3. Encourage Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Promote physical well-being, self-esteem, and reduce childhood obesity by offering culturally relevant tennis, fitness programs, WFPB nutri=on, and veteran mentorship, supported by a sustainable staffing model to elevate program delivery and outcomes.
4. Secure OperaQons & Program Funding
Transi=on from a volunteer-driven to a funded opera=onal model to scale our impact, employing dedicated staff, professionalizing opera=ons, and ensuring program longevity. This goal underscores the importance of financial sustainability in fulfilling our mission and expanding our service reach.
2024 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
With the excep=on of EDD Roots collabora=ve ac=vi=es, our 2024 program schedule is provided here:
BUDGETS, FUNDING ASPIRATIONS AND VOLUNTEER ACHIEVEMENTS
Power is Giving Inc. has demonstrated remarkable resilience and impact in advancing health equity and nutri=onal educa=on within BIPOC communi=es and among veterans in CharloNe, NC, Greenville, SC, and Spartanburg, SC. Since our incep=on, we have been propelled by the dedica=on of our volunteers, achieving significant milestones without the benefit of an opera=ng budget. Our key programs have
been delivered through the =reless efforts of our commiNed volunteer team, underscoring the power of community and shared vision in driving change.
Despite these achievements, we recognize the need for a sustainable model to amplify our impact and reach more individuals within our priority popula=ons. To this end, Power is Giving Inc. aspires to secure funding for our opera=ons and program budgets. This strategic move will enable us to expand our staff, ensuring that we can con=nue to deliver and grow our life-changing programs with greater efficiency and reach.
Securing funding is not just an investment in Power is Giving Inc.; it's an investment in the health and wellbeing of BIPOC communi=es and veterans, promising a future where access to nutri=ous, whole food, plant-based nutri=on and educa=on is a reality for all.
2024 PROGRAM BUDGET SUMMARY
EDD TALKS
This free invite only, 90-minute, WFPB and healthy vegan lunch and learn program includes a 30–40minute physician-led chronic disease preven=on and arrest presenta=on on and informa=on regarding the importance of WFPB nutri=on and food access for health equity. 50 par=cipants per program (42024 programs) $4,325 per program ($17,300)
EDD TENNIS
Set to engage up to 75 BIPOC youth ages 6-16 and feature a half-day of ac=vi=es including WFPB lunches, healthy vegan snacks, BIPOC former division 1 & 2 tennis coaching and opportuni=es to be mentored by a local veteran: $7,125.
EDD HBCU TOWN HALL AND TASTING
Will engage between 175-200 HBCU student and faculty aNendees dialogue about nutri=on, health equity, and the systemic challenges affec=ng food access while also being introduced to a culturally resonant and healthy vegan meal/tas=ng experience: $9,500.
EDD SUMMIT
A ½ day hallmark call to ac=on program will reach over 450 individuals in person and up to an addi=onal 500 virtually. An important gathering for veterans, BIPOC community members, health professionals, and advocates, EDD summit significantly broadens our impact among those desiring agency over their health and is a powerful plaiorm for BIPOC and veteran vendors, clinicians, chefs, and subject maNer experts to share knowledge, free healthy vegan food, vegan cookbooks, demos, and other wellness resources: $24,475.
OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
For those unable to par=cipate in our year-round programs, we work with community partners to bring WFPB fitness, culinary, demo, tas=ngs and other resources directly to community churches, VFW halls and gatherings that comprise BIPOC and veteran popula=ons: $9,000.
2024 PROGRAM AND OPERATING BUDGET
STAFFING AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The accompanying organiza=onal chart represents the dedicated team that forms the backbone of Power is Giving Inc. At present, the posi=ons highlighted are staffed by a network of commiNed volunteers, each contribu=ng their =me and exper=se without compensa=on. These individuals have been fundamental to our success, driven by a shared vision of achieving health equity and nutri=onal jus=ce for BIPOC communi=es and veterans.
As we look to the future, our strategic goal is to secure funding that will allow us to transi=on from a volunteer-based model to a sustainable, staffed organiza=on. This move will enable us to provide our team with the resources and support they deserve and to expand our capacity to serve our communi=es effec=vely.
Funded posi=ons are essen=al for the growth of our programs, ensuring that we can maintain and enhance the quality, reach, and impact of our work.
We are deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished with minimal resources and are commiNed to inves=ng in our people as we move forward. Funding these posi=ons is not merely an opera=onal goal; it is a reflec=on of our commitment to professional development, organiza=onal stability, and the amplifica=on of our mission to dismantle systemic food injus=ces.
CONCLUSION
At Power is Giving, our mission compels us to aid in the dismantling of barriers to wellness equity through restora=ve educa=on, the provision of evidence-based resources and the promo=on of whole food, plant-based (WFPB) living for op=mal health.
While we know realizing enduring health jus=ce requires building an empowered movement, our strategic plan charts a progressive course to spark transforma=on by reaching those made most vulnerable.