LETTER FROM OUR CEO

I am pleased to welcome you to our 12th Planter Awards Gala. This year, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH) celebrates 25 years of service to vulnerable communities across New York City. As I reflect on this year’s theme, “Building Community Resiliency,” we have made significant strides in our mission to give our communities healthy food with dignity and the tools and resources they need to become resilient.

As I reflect on our humble beginnings, The Campaign Against Hunger was birthed through helping one family in need, which later blossomed into serving 50 families weekly from a church’s basement and now impacting over 1.5 million New Yorkers annually. This is no easy accomplishment. TCAH’s success is largely attributed to our communities which play a key role in shaping our response to the challenges they face. We acknowledge that food is a right and not a privilege. No New Yorker should struggle to put on their table. Yet still, so many of our neighbors get on the food lines daily to feed and support their kids and families.

TCAH continues to lead with compassion. We’re consistently innovating our programs and services to assure equity and dignity in access to not just food but critical social services, benefits such as SNAP, health insurance, free tax preparation, high-skilled workforce training and development programs for at-risk teens, nutrition and culinary classes, mobile farmers markets and urban farms, and so much more!

Our communities have the solutions, and through continued partnership and collaboration, we will ensure they are resourced in ways that increase their self-determination. I am excited about our work and plans to end hunger in New York City! Together, we can create a city where every New Yorker has enough to eat to live an active, healthy life. We are resilient. I am moved by the times and support of our elected leaders, donors, partners, friends, staff, volunteers, and everyone who makes our work possible.

Thank you for supporting our 12th Planter Awards to raise funds and acknowledge some great individuals who continue to work relentlessly to address gaps in food and economic access.

In Solidarity,

Dr. Melony Samuels CEO and Founder The Campaign Against Hunger

Board Of Directors

Michael Woolley, Board Chair

Tony Argento

Jennifer Compton

Timothy Fraser

Joshua Lukeman

David Mair

James Merkin

Annie Mohan

Richard Roberts

Tina Tse