About Us
1 in 5 Kids in Ohio are Food Insecure
Childhood Hunger in Ohio
Over 400,000 children across Ohio live in food-insecure households. That means 1 in 5 children are unsure of where their next meal is coming from. This is the lowest number in decades due to many special programs available during the pandemic.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure that children without access receive healthy food, nutrition education and physical activity.
How Children's Hunger Alliance can help
Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger.
We collaborate with organizations throughout Ohio to provide nutritious meals to at-risk children who need them most. CHA partners with in-home childcare providers, childcare centers, afterschool and summer programs to provide balanced, healthy meals to children in their care. Additionally, we work with schools to increase breakfast participation and provide weekend meals to students. Our team of educators also deliver nutrition education and lead children in physical activities to provide a balanced approach to childhood health.
Children’s Hunger Alliance has a team of 50 professionals throughout the state who are passionate about ending childhood hunger in Ohio’s 88 counties. Our home office is in Columbus, Ohio with regional offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo.
Our Programs
IN-HOME CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
We partner with more than 500 In-Home Childcare providers to ensure they offer nutritious meals to children in their care.
CHILDCARE CENTERS
We partner with approximately 65 Childcare Centers to provide healthy meals to the children in their centers.
TEACHING HEALTHY HABITS
Education is key to ensuring kids and their caregivers understand the importance of nutrition and how it fuels overall health. We provide nutrition education in childcare centers, afterschool programs, and at summer sites.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST
We work with schools to increase school breakfast participation and in some situations, we provide financial grants to ensure students start the day with a healthy meal.
AFTERSCHOOL MEALS
We partner with approximately 250 afterschool programs to provide healthy meals and snacks to children at the end of their school day.
SUMMER MEALS
We sponsor approximately 150 summer sites to help fill the meal gap many children face during the summer. Only 10% of children who receive free or reduced meals during the school year have access to a summer meal program, much works needs to be done to provide children with the food they need during the summer.

Our Leadership

Michelle M. Brown
President and Chief Executive Officer

Michele Marra
Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations

Shannon Amos
Vice President, Programs

Joy Kouns-Lewis
Vice President,
Human Resources & Risk

Cindi Marshall
Vice President, Development
Governing Board of Directors
Aaron Ockerman (Chair)
President
Ockerman Consulting
Nikki Scarpitti (Vice Chair)
Executive Director
The Walter Family Foundation
Steve Rigdon (Treasurer)
Managing Director
KPMG
Frank Combs (Secretary)
Executive Director, CPP
PPAC at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Masa Abdelhadi (Development Chair)
Partner
EY
Kelli Berner (At-Large Member)
Chief People Officer
The Champion Companies
Skyler Kalady (At-Large Member)
Pediatrician
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Janice Innis-Thompson (At-Large Member)
SVP, Corporate Litigation & Legal Operations
Nationwide Insurance
Sathu Alagappan
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Irene Alvarez
Founder and Brand Strategist
Irene Alvarez Consulting
Heather Brockler
Vice President, People and Culture
Cleveland Cavaliers
Sheldon Clarke
Vice President of Engineering, Head of Claims & Benefits Platforms
Northwestern Mutual
Trish English
SVP, Finance
Cardinal Health
Steve Forry
Corporate Counsel
BMW Financial Services
Abby Goolsby
Director of Operations
UPS
Jennifer Jarrell
Chief Communications Coordinator
Ohio Department of Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services
Lisa Kelso
Vice President, Customer Experience
AEP
Erica Krumlauf
COO
Leading EDJE
Jeff Marx
Vice President and Treasurer
Hexion
Chris Potelicki
Account Manager
Eclipse Creative
Brett Radulovich
Vice President, Strategy & Risk Operations
NiSource Inc.
Dawn Riedel
Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
CAS
Chana Russell
Accounting Manager
Paul Werth
John Singleton
Senior Vice President of Government Relations
Community Choice Financial, Inc.
Ryen Stewart
Commercial Banking Relationship Manager
Fifth Third Bank
Bryan White
Vice President
Huntington National Bank
Lisa Dodge (Emeritus Member)
Vice President
Sean P. Dunn & Associates
Regional Advisory Boards
Ann Whisler (Chair)
Berkshire Hathaway Footwear
Stephanie Johnson
Battelle
Brett Kim
OhioHealth
Lindsey VanMeter Pavlik
CASTO
Jason Roche
Bob Evans Foods
Jean Ann Showalter
Grange Insurance
Tyler Smith (Chair)
Mercy Health
Todd Boyer
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group
Jeremy Hartle
Croak Asset Management
Bailey Koester
Renhill
Dave Kontur
Lucas County Family & Children First Council
Jennifer Kovacs
Designetics, Inc.
Jeff Little
Sun Federal Credit Union
Holly Taylor
Superior Credit Union
Jeff Markowski (Chair)
UPS
Christine Arvay
Cleveland Community Member
Vince Direnzo
Eaton Corporation
Tiffanie Riggs
Humana
Natalia Steele
Vorys
Roopa Thakur
Cleveland Clinic
Brenda Lemon (Chair)
Logan-Hocking Local School District
Steve Denny
Winton Woods City Schools
Jess Mayambi
Nordson
Cathy Ponitz
Community Volunteer
Jesse Reed
CareSource
Donors
We are very grateful for the generosity of the individuals, groups, businesses, foundations and friends that partner with us in the fight against childhood hunger. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of the food-insecure children throughout Ohio. The gifts and grants reported here reflect funding received between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.
400,000+



100,000+

Mercy Health - St. Rita’s Medical Center LLC


The Ronald and Paula Raymond Foundation



50,000+

Fischer Family Foundation



The Hire Family Foundation

Heren Foundation USA

In Kind:

25,000+



Harry C. Moores Foundation




Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation










10,000+
Beth Crane and Richard McKee
ASG + Chute Gerdeman
Burton E. Stevenson Fund
Champion Foodservice, LLC.
Charter Next Generation
Children’s Practicing Pediatricians
Citizens National Bank
Crane Group
Edelweiss Foundation
First Merchants Bank
FirstEnergy Foundation
Greif, Inc.
Happy Daz Charities
HealthSCOPE Benefits, Inc.
Hexion Inc.
Huntington National Bank
Ingram-White Castle Foundation
J.E. Fehsenfeld Family Foundation
Kettering Family Philanthropies
KeyBank Foundation
Leading EDJE
Liberty Mutual Insurance | State Auto Insurance
M&O Property Solutions
Mathile Family Foundation
NJM Insurance Group
Nordson Corporation Foundation
Ohio Children’s Foundation
Owens-Illinois
Performance Columbus
PPG Foundation
Roach Family Foundation
SC Ministry Foundation
Siemer Family Foundation
Springfield Foundation
Synthomer Foundation
T. Marzetti Company
Thatcher Family Fund
The AES Ohio Foundation
The Andrew Jergens Foundation
The National Machinery Foundation, Inc.
The Ohio State University Office of Student Life
The Robert Weiler Company
The Sam S. and Rose Stein Foundation
Universal Pallets Inc.
US Bank
Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation
Worthington Moose Family Center 1427
In-Kind
Because I Said I Would
Universal Pallets Inc.
5,000+
Gillian Thomson and Kent Johnson
Jasmine and Robert Ryu
American Electric Power
Ar-Hale Family Foundation
Columbus Foundation Fellowship Fund
Crowe LLP
Dana Open
DLZ Corporation
Eaton Corporation
Encova Insurance
Ernst & Young
First Financial Foundation
General Mills Foundation
Kaulig Capital LLC
KPMG LLP
Meijer Store #114
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Ohio Education Association
Quantum Health
Stonehenge Partners
Superior Credit Union, Inc.
Sysco
The Ohio State University
TSG Advice Partners
Westerville Sunrise Rotary Foundation
In-Kind
Mills James
Eclipse Creative
Careers
Join Our Team
Children's Hunger Alliance is looking for dedicated people who want to make an impact on the lives of Ohio's kids.
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