Food Related Programs (Food Insecurity, Nutrition Education, Healthy and Active Lifestyles)

Sara Lee Corporation is a Chicago-based global manufacturer and marketer of high quality brand-name products for consumers throughout the world. Much of Sara Lee's sales come from life's material necessities such as food, so Sara Lee feels a special responsibility to address significant food related programs (food insecurity, nutrition education, and healthy and active lifestyles) in its giving.

The Sara Lee Foundation places funding priority on grants to nonprofits that create collaborative and innovative initiatives focused on fighting hunger. Food insecurity is a critical issue and significant consideration is given to programs that focus on food recovery, increased access to fresh produce and protein, meal programs when schools are not in session (as for many students, school lunch is their only meal of the day), and hunger awareness. Nutrition and nutrition education is also of significant interest, particularly in programs that distribute food provided by the government, so that information is available on how to prepare the food in healthy and nutritious ways. Finally, in taking a holistic view on issues of food, we consider projects that deal with issues of food in relationship to healthy and active lifestyles through programs that address the need for nutrition education combined with increased physical activity.

To be considered for support, a prospective applicant must first submit an Online Letter of Intent. For instructions on how to apply, please follow the link to our Giving Guidelines. To read about some of the groups and projects we have funded recently, follow the links below:

AIDS Foundation of Chicago
American Indian Center
Association House of Chicago
Atlanta Community Food Bank
Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi
Boys and Girls Club of Nash and Edgecombe Counties
Center On Halsted
Chicago Home and Aid Society of Illinois
Chinese American Service League
DuPage Senior Citizens Council
Feeding America
Food Research and Action Center
FreeStore-FoodBank
Fresh Air Family
Girl Scouts of Chicago
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Growing Home
Humanitarian Service Project
Inspiration Corporation
Metrocrest Social Services
Mississippi Food Network
North Texas Food Bank
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Ozark Food Bank
People's Resource Center
Robert Crown Center for Health Education
San Francisco Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Teen Parent Connection
Utah Food Bank
Vital Bridges