Announcing the recipients of the 2026 Food Justice for Kids Prize!
Newman’s Own Foundation, Humanitix, The Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and the Hunger to Health Collaboratory are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Food Justice for Kids Prize, which will award $1.4 million in grant funding over two years to be split between 14 nonprofits and Tribes in the United States that are working to ensure all children can access, learn about, and engage with nutritious, culturally relevant food at school and in communities.
This year’s recipients are strengthening culturally relevant nutrition education, youth development, local school food procurement, and climate-friendly school meals. From policy and systems change work to community engagement and education, each organization has a unique approach to advance food justice in their communities.
Photo by USDA, Lance Cheung.
Why food justice for kids?
We envision the United States as a country where all children can access nutritious, culturally relevant foods; learn about healthy foods and sustainable food systems; have opportunities to grow, gather, and cook food; and be nourished physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
Unfortunately, this vision is far from reality. In the United States, 1 in 5 children (14.1 million) live in households where they do not have enough nutritious food to eat or know where their next meal may come from. At the same time, over half of U.S. children fall short on consumption of key food groups like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Food access and diet quality are critical for children to learn, grow, and thrive at schools and in communities. Children facing food insecurity are more likely to experience developmental delays, anxiety, depression, and other chronic health outcomes.
Indigenous communities face even greater challenges. The seizing of Indigenous lands in the United States over several centuries disrupted the communities’ knowledge and cultivation of culturally specific foods and food systems, contributing to higher rates of food insecurity and risks for chronic diseases among Native American youth, including obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Photo courtesy of La Colaborativa.
