On July 30, 2024, Hormel Foods, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, proudly announced its third cohort of "10 Under 20 Food Heroes." This initiative recognizes young individuals from across the United States who have made significant contributions toward creating a more transparent, secure and sustainable food system. These young change makers have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their communities through various charitable projects and initiatives.
Meet the 2024 10 Under 20 Food Heroes
Aakash Suresh (18, Miami, Florida) - Vice chair and head of relations for the Junior Advisory Board of Joshua's Heart Foundation, focusing on ending hunger and supporting children with physical and cognitive challenges in India
Bella Eberhart (12, Wellington, Florida) - Founder of "Parties with a Purpose" and the student-run community service club, currently establishing "B3 Powerful" to connect youth with community service opportunities
Colin Chu (16, Palo Alto, California) - Founder of Homeless Heroes, a nonprofit that raises awareness about homelessness and promotes food sustainability, donating thousands of meals monthly
Elaina Johnson (10, Broomfield, Colorado) - Works with her grandmother to source and distribute food to the needy, including supporting refugees in Denver
Emma Falkenmeyer (18, Sherrill, New York) - Established School Lunch Pals to eliminate student lunch debt and support students with free or reduced lunch needs
Lauren Schroeder (18, Dixon, Iowa) - Donates homegrown produce to charitable causes, aiming to reach 20,000 pounds by fall 2025
Natalie Deitz (13, Abingdon, Maryland) - Overcame food anxiety and now helps critically ill children, preparing food kits and supporting youth through the We Cancerve nonprofit
Samantha Sandhaus (18, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) - Founded Feeding Philly, a student-led organization combating food waste and food insecurity
Skai and Will Nzeuton (18 and 16, New York City, New York) - Co-founders of Food for All NYC, rescuing food to redistribute to those in need, with a dedicated app for streamlining operations
Steven Hoffen (16, New York City, New York) - Founder of Growing Peace, promoting hydroponic gardening to alleviate food insecurity and fostering cultural understanding
2024 Food Hero Ambassadors:
- Shreyaa and Esha Venkat (21 and 18, Virginia) - Founders of NEST4US, a nonprofit organization mobilizing volunteers globally to tackle issues like hunger, poverty and food waste.
Hormel Foods will host these young leaders at their global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota, for a day of recognition and celebration. The event will include discussions with Hormel Foods leaders to explore opportunities for furthering their projects, along with financial grants to support their initiatives.
For more information about the program, visit 10under20foodheroes.com.
