Menu of Hope

FOOD INSECURITY AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH THE FOCUS OF THE 23RD ANNUAL MENU OF HOPE LUNCHEON PRESENTED BY THE AEP FOUNDATION

Children’s Hunger Alliance Invites Sampson Davis, M.D., Emergency Medicine Physician and Best-Selling Author to Deliver Keynote

COLUMBUS, OH (December 5, 2017) – Children’s Hunger Alliance, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio, will hold its 23rd Annual Menu of Hope luncheon presented by the AEP Foundation on Thursday, February 22, 2018, featuring inspirational keynote speaker Sampson Davis, M.D., and hosts Bob Kendrick and Stacia Naquin of ABC 6 and FOX 28.

Menu of Hope was created with the goal of raising funds to provide healthy meals and nutrition and physical education to Ohio’s at-risk children who do not have consistent access to the food they need to grow, learn and thrive. More than 575,000 Ohio children – or more than 1 in 5 – live in a household where they will experience hunger or inadequate access to healthy food. The health effects of food insecurity in children can vary from developmental delays to behavioral issues to an increased risk of obesity due to eating highly processed, calorie dense foods.

“One of the greatest tragedies in our nation is witnessing a child go hungry especially in a country that has so much,” said Dr. Davis. “Children’s Hunger Alliance is leading the movement in making sure our children are not only receiving daily nutrition but also given healthy food options. By supplying them meals, our children can focus on what matters most – childhood, education, family, friendship, growth and their future.”

The luncheon will be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will host more than 800 central Ohio leaders, including employees of returning sponsors such as the AEP Foundation, L Brands Foundation, Nationwide and more. Children’s Hunger Alliance is honored to have Tony D’Angelo, General Manager of ABC 6, FOX 28 and CW Columbus and Sue Zazon, President, Central Ohio Region, Huntington, join as honorary co-chairs of the event. The teams at ABC 6 and Huntington continue to be generous supporters of Menu of Hope and the Children’s Hunger Alliance mission.

“Many people do not realize how pervasive childhood hunger is here in Ohio,” said Judy Mobley, president and CEO, Children’s Hunger Alliance. “We are so grateful to community members and local corporations, including our Platinum Apple Sponsor AEP and Gold Apple Sponsors L Brands and Nationwide for helping to provide healthy meals to Ohio’s hungry children.”

“It is an honor for The AEP Foundation to serve as the 2018 Menu of Hope Platinum Apple Sponsor,” said Dale Heydlauff, president, the AEP Foundation. “We are committed to supporting the communities where we live and work. Food is the fuel that powers children’s development. It enables them to learn and allows them to be physically active. It is critical that we work together to ensure that no child in Ohio ever has to go hungry. That’s why we’ve committed to be the Menu of Hope Platinum sponsor for the last three years.”

Children’s Hunger Alliance works to fill nutrition gaps for children by partnering with child care providers, schools, afterschool enrichment programs and summer feeding programs to ensure children receive the meals they need to grow, learn and thrive. Over the past 23 years Children’s Hunger Alliance has been honored to host national and local celebrities as well as local business, nonprofit and community leaders at Menu of Hope. These generous supporters have raised nearly $7 million to benefit hungry kids in Ohio.

Today, the Menu of Hope Luncheon continues to be one of central Ohio’s premier philanthropic events. For table, ticket and sponsorship information, contact Elizabeth Jewell at ejewell@childrenshungeralliance.org or visit our Menu of Hope page.

About Children’s Hunger Alliance
Founded in 1970 in Columbus, Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio. The organization fills nutrition gaps experienced by more than 1 in 5 Ohio kids who live in food-insecure households by providing healthy food and nutrition education so kids can grow, learn and thrive. The organization works with partners including childcare providers, schools, afterschool enrichment programs and summer feeding programs to help provide millions of nutrition meals and snacks to hungry children throughout Ohio each year. Learn more at childrenshungeralliance.org.