Nourishing NYC: Growing Food is Power

Nourishing NYC tackles health and food security issues in impoverished East Harlem.  Chef and nutrition expert Gina Keatley saw the correlation between diabetes and lack of access to nutritious food in the NYC community and found a way to begin to empower residents through her nonprofit.

Twice a week, Nourishing NYC now offers nutrition classes at community gardens, shelters, and other nonprofit organizations which serve low-income people.  Urban gardening is also promoted as a way to have healthy food choices and beat paying for expensive produce.  The Junior Chef program teaches children basic cooking skills and how to smartly choose food.  The organization also distributes 1,000 free turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Keatley was recently featured as a CNN Hero.

Garden on the Go: a Farmers Market on Wheels

Indiana University found people in poverty have access to the worst kinds of food, for example, fast food and convenience stores.  The USDA indicates nearly 70% of low income areas are "food deserts" barren of affordable, healthy choices. IU-Health's Garden on the Go remedies the lack of access in poor neighborhoods with a mobile fruit and vegetable market.

IU-Health partners with a vending company year round offering regular and reliable service to people who often lack transportation.  The goal is to fight obesity rates and lower risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer by making healthy food available.

Garden on the Go accepts cash, credit cards, and SNAP/EBT.

Aspiritech: Jobs for People with Autism

More than 9 percent of the U.S. population is unemployed, and finding work is challenging for adults with autism even in better economies.  Brenda Weitzberg knew her university educated son could work, but his autism amounted to a serious obstacle in the job market.  His unique talent for attention to detail proved perfect in identifying software anomalies.  And so, she founded Aspiritech, which tests for software problems, not only to address her son's needs but the needs of other people in his situation.

Aspiritech's "mission to provide a path for high functioning individuals on the Autism Spectrum helps these young adults realize their potential through gainful employment."

The nonprofit's vision is to expand to other geographic and business areas in addition to inspiring others to replicate our model. To those ends, we continue to seek sources of funding and additional billable work.

You can find out more about Aspiritech by visiting the website.

Peer2Peer Tutors Impassioned in Education

Erik Kimel launched Peer2Peer Tutors as teenager.  At 16, he knew fellow students entrenched in academics were the best resource for struggling students.  Throughout college Kimel kept at the organization he founded and is now the CEO at age 25.  He not only provides academic help for kindergartners though college age but continues to employ youth as tutors starting at $12 an hour:

Peer2Peer also offers a sorely needed employment opportunity for young people, in an economic climate that has been especially tough on teens and college students. The tutoring company is poised to create 500 youth jobs. 

The organization is for-profit with a social mission.  Philanthropic efforts include donating 1% of its revenue to the communities it serves with free tutoring and services in Virginia and areas of Maryland and Connecticut tutoring Title 1 students free of charge.

Project Cuddle: Pregnancy without Fear

No baby ever has to be abandoned.  Since 1996, Project Cuddle has helped frightened girls and women find solutions and support by empowering the expectant mothers with choices.  Some need advice about telling their parents.  Others need shelter.   The range of care Project Cuddle offers can be as simple as emotional support or as involved as finding adoptive parents.

Ready to listen, volunteers man the 24-hour a day toll free number (888-628-3353) and website.   The Project Cuddle goals focus on the health and safety of the baby while in en utero and following birth.  This 501 (c)(3) nonprofit wants each birth mother proud of the decisions she makes.

Girls on the Run: Empowering Girls with Self-Respect

The core values of Girls on the Run:

• Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making 
• Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness
• Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions
• Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health
• Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
• Stand up for ourselves and others

Healthy attitudes and lifestyles during childhood can equip young girls to make positive decisions and avoid dangerous risk-taking during adolescence.  This is why Girls on the Run focuses on the development of girls eight to thirteen years old. The organization's program combines training for a 3.1 mile run and workouts that build both stamina and self-esteem.

Girls on the Run envisions a world where every girl "knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams."

Love Kitchen Feeding the Homeless, Hungry, Hopeless, Homebound, and Helpless

Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner have made it their business to feed the hungry.  The twin sisters carry out this mission through their Love Kitchen which has been nourishing bodies and souls for twenty years now.  The twins' charitable work  has been recognized with a CNN Heroes feature, on Oprah, and ABC's Secret Millionaire.


Every week more than 2000 meals are made.  Eighty percent of the food is for the homebound people in the Knoxville area.  The sisters have attracted a lot of volunteers who help make the work possible.  


The Love Kitchen's motto is "Everybody is God's Somebody."