FREEING PEOPLE FROM HUNGER
Growing To Give
Growing To Give is a registered 501c3 non-profit that
develops projects and partnerships to free people from
hunger across the country and around the world.
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Creating an innovative, International NGO from scratch in the midst of a world crisis may not have been the best of ideas. Little did we know when the idea was hatched for Growing to Give that within a year a world pandemic would hit.
Yet, it was important to us to soldier through and do what we could to make an impact on the community we were growing food in. A virgin non-profit, whose registration for a 501c3 in the US came two months before the pandemic struck didn’t let that slam the book closed. Instead it made the read more interesting. The characters were up against so many challenges, yet progress was made as each new day dawned. Nutritious food was grown through unexpected frost, heatwaves that fried eggs on the sidewalk, wild windstorms and thick wildfire smoke. A small band of dedicated volunteers successfully grew food and donated it to local food banks throughout the crisis. 100 000lbs of food were donated from an acre of land!
Coming out the crisis, it was clear, the idea of food security projects was vital to reducing the effects of the pandemic on communities worldwide. Regions that were already suffering food crises before the pandemic were in even more dire straits. Places where food imports made up a majority of the food available were all of a sudden facing bare shelves and local agriculture wasn’t prepared to pick up the slack. North American food banks for the first time saw a massive drop in donations of food and money. No backup plan could have ever been conceivedfor what occurred
As the world rises from its unexpected slumber, so does Growing to Give. Having not raised any donations through the crisis, it was time to change that. How? Volunteers! People with the skills and talent to build and manage a world-class NGO! A volunteer opportunity was posted on LinkedIn for grant writers. The push to keep the dream alive had to begin somewhere. That was early December 2022. By mid-January, not only was there a team of grant writers, there were teams of fundraising campaign volunteers, operations managers, social media, public relations and media production professionals. Teams consisting of socially-conscious individuals from a variety of countries and backgrounds all determined to share their expertise and effort to fund a winning non-profit organization. Winning for the people who will benefit from the myriad of food security projects in que already and those that are yet to be known.
Meet the team! From our innovative thinking Co-Founders and Board of Directors to our impressive Advisory Board. All volunteers dedicated to changing the world one bite at a time.
Take a moment to read their bios and learn more about them. You will find the thread that has brought them together into a tightly-knit group is their love of people. Please send good wishes to them as they work together to end hunger globally on island nations, in Africa, and in marginalized communities across North America and beyond.
Siobhan, co-founder and chair of Growing To Give, brings her passion for people to the team. An advocate for women in agriculture, she has a passionate view of the human condition and a deep empathy for humanity. Linkedin
John, a serial entrepreneur, has developed a range of forestry technologies that address the problems of water scarcity, climate change and food security around the world. Linkedin
Tom has over 28 years experience in product development, manufacturing, building construction and commercial management. He brings valuable experience and expertise in the supply of materials to GTG. Admin
John Warren is an experienced lawyer who has worked in numerous areas as a sole practitioner, partner, in-house counsel and pro bono lawyer. He is passionate about environmental sustainability. Linkedin
With over 25 years of experience as a lawyer, Crystal Gothard is a forward-thinking business advisor, senior counsel and intellectual property and commercial transactional lawyer with global experience. Linkedin
Racine is an experienced and compassionate advocate with a passion for promoting human rights and women's empowerment around the world. Racine is deeply committed to eradicating world hunger. Linkedin
With over 17 years of experience working in operations and senior product management in Saas and blockchain companies, Heather is a results-oriented team player with a passion for protecting life on the planet. Linkedin
Avery, a non-profit professional, has held a variety of leadership and internship positions, including with the United Way of Washtenaw County, and as Partnership Chair at the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Linkedin
Alex has supported non-profit organisations by forging strategic partnerships, supporting community projects and writing grant applications. These skills intersect with his knowledge of sustainable agricultural systems. Linkedin
Dr. Justin S. Gardner, PhD, is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to bringing innovation, scalability, and sustainability to projects, clients, and organizations with specific focus on social justice and equity. Linkedin
Kristen's career has spanned the food and waste landscape and has been grounded in regenerative management. Her expertise spans sustainable operations, supply chains and food systems, and the circular economy. Linkedin
Over the past ten years, Jonathan has developed not just a hobby, but a passion for gardening and plant science. His professional experiences have led him to discover a unique eye for graphic design and branding. Linkedin
Stacey Álvarez de la Campa is a legal and educational consultant who contributes to sustainable development, climate education and human rights advocacy through her roles in various global organisations and initiatives. Linkedin
Michelle Weng recently graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Biological Sciences. Her passion is sustainability and wildlife conservation, especially marine life. Linkedin
Reka Baltas' expertise spans finance and online marketing. She has been working in Europe and the United States for almost two decades. Her passion is promoting organic food and healthier eating. Linkedin
Joanne Z. Tan is a strategist and global authority on branding, branding and marketing for organisations, and personal branding for individuals and leaders. She coaches, advises and counsels board members. Linkedin
Renee is a force in the Caribbean business community. As a cultural ambassador for GTG, this young leader brings to her role at Growing to Give her ability to liaise in a multi-disciplinary environment. Linkedin
Gillian has over 25 years of creative leadership. She loves creating strategic communication processes that build mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their respective communities. Linkedin
U.S. Navy Veteran. I firmly believe in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, because that is when it matters most. My life passion is to live a life of service to others and to be the change we all want to see in the world. Linkedin
Mathebe has worked with Saharan and East African medical ministries across the African continent. One of his greatest achievements was working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Linkedin
Jan drives our Growing To Give mission in South Africa by working with more than a dozen farms and community gardens along the Garden Route. We value his skills as a consultative strategist and project leader. Linkedin
Lungile holds an FET Certificate in Human Resource Management and is studying for a Diploma in Public Relations. She is involved in communications, public relations, media relations, social media, advertising and branding, with a focus on special events. Her mission is to help in any way she can to eliminate hunger in the world. Linkedin
Joseph is passionate about the South Pacific islands, their communities and culture. His mission is to bring together businesses, governments and people to rapidly improve food security in the South Pacific islands. Linkedin
Gabriel, a Marketing graduate, helps people through Digital Marketing to grow their businesses. He has always participated in volunteer groups in Brazil. For him, helping others is the most rewarding part of life. Linkedin
Joe is an excellent freelance writer living on the south side of Chicago. He has a BA in History from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Linkedin
Donna is a professional screenwriter and filmmaker. She is the founder and director of Out of the Triangle Productions and is currently producing several streaming series, including Divine Intervention. Linkedin
Earielle is a student at Southern University A&M majoring in Urban Forestry and Natural Resources. She is passionate about protecting and healing the planet and finding ways for humanity to coexist with nature. Linkedin
Eshness has over 10 years of work experience in agriculture, management, training, marketing, partnerships and market systems development. He creates sustainable safety nets that restore environmental ecosystems. Linkedin
Sonia has been working in and with non-profit organisations for over 35 years. She is passionate about people and community. She believes that collectively we are stronger than we can be on our own and is delighted to support Creciendo para dar. Linkedin
Musa is a South African-Congolese national with a degree in Environmental Science. Since her childhood, Musa has worked as a volunteer in various places on different continents cultivating farms and community gardens. Linkedin
- PHIL JACKSON
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