Ample Table for Everyone Awards New Grants Aimed at Family Food Security in New York City

When Synchronicity Ignites Social Impact, Needy Families Learn to
Feed Themselves

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For nearly two decades, six busy executive women met quarterly in an
upper west side condo for hours-long, spirited discussion about life and
work—no topic off limits. They called these wine and cheese-fueled
gatherings ‘synchronicity’ meetings. As the ladies began to make their
transition from the daily grind into a freer phase of their lives, they
decided to put their synchronicity to work and tackle a problem of
mutual concern. Their idea: Ample
Table for Everyone (ATE), a New York City non-profit working to fund
food security initiatives across the five boroughs.

Each woman—a CEO, attorney, financial consultant, two non-profit
executives and a psychologist—had enjoyed great success, professionally
and personally. They raised families here, developed lasting friendships
and felt deeply connected to NYC. And each was looking to give back in a
meaningful way to the city that gave her so much.

“We spent a lifetime cultivating relationships through business and
social dealings,” explains Helaine Geismar Katz, president of ATE. “So
we thought, why not harness the power of our collective networks for the
greater good?”

In less than two years, ATE has awarded grants
totaling $82,500 to six NYC-based organizations working to ameliorate food
insecurity by addressing the key causes—lack of time, lack of money,
inaccessibility to nutritious food and unfamiliarity with a variety of
healthy ingredients, cooking methods and recipes. “Empowering New York
City families to feed themselves more sustainably and consistently with
an emphasis on healthy eating is a critical first step to real and
systemic change,” says Mrs. Katz.

ATE’s 2015 roster of grant recipients, narrowed from 65 preliminary
applications, are: Kingsborough
Community College Urban Farm Bring It Home, McSilver
Institute for Poverty Policy and Research Family and Food Matters!,
Northeast
Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation (NEBHDCO) Head Start on
Cooking and The
Sylvia Center Cooks for Health.

In 2014, ATE awarded grants to Corbin
Hill Food Project and PS
84 PTA, which received a Silver in Excellence award from the
Department of Education for its garden and nutrition education
curriculum.

“Our hope is for every child in New York City to be able to say, ‘I
ate,’” concludes Mrs. Katz.

CLICK TO TWEET: ATE’s
2016 grant cycle will begin in November. Those wishing to learn
more, donate
and/or apply for a grant may visit ampletableforeveryone.org,
or follow ATE’s activities on Twitter @ATENYC
and Facebook.
Ample Table for Everyone is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based
in New York City.

Contacts

Ample Table for Everyone
Lori Diamond, 917-797-1411
ldn@ampletableforeveryone.org