7th Annual Spring Benefit

Celebrating over 20 years of empowering children across America to make healthy food choices independently.
 

This year, we are honoring three amazing women who are dedicated to children's health and children's nutrition. 

Dr. Manasa Mantravadi founder of AHIMSA for her commitment to creating safe colorful stainless-steel dishes for children at home and in their schools.

Lauren Bush Lauren for FEED that is working to alleviate hunger crises and chronic malnutrition through school feeding programs.

Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director, Mayor's Office of Food Policy as she continues to advance the food equity goals of Food Forward NYC, the city's first-ever 10-year food policy plan.

Join us for a lively 90-minute VIP Cocktail Reception in the Metropolitan Club's Great Hall with Master of Ceremonies, Comedian and New York Times Bestselling Author, Jenny Mollen, an elegant three-course seated dinner, special guest speakers, and an exciting live auction.  

Festive Cocktail Attire (Men are required to wear a jacket and tie)

7th Annual Spring Benefit Committee

Co-Chairs
Katherine Boulud - Lauren Amanda Adler - Jeff Bank

Benefit Committee

Audrey Bellovin - Verity Buchanan - Suzanne Cutler - Lara Devgan -

Lynda Dias - Darice Fadeyi - David Finkel - Rita Jammet -

Michelle Pakula - Rachelle Parker - Salvatore Rizzo - Suzanne Seymour -

Stephanie Stamas - Natalia Torres

Individual Award for Excellence
Lauren Bush Lauren

Lauren Bush Lauren is the Founder and CEO of FEED, an impact-driven brand founded upon the belief that food is a universal human right. Every FEED product sold provides school meals to children through direct donations to their on-the-ground partners. Since 2007, FEED has helped provide over 126 million school meals around the world and here in the U.S. For her work with FEED, Lauren has received multiple awards, including Fortune Magazine's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in 2009 and Inc. Magazine's 30 Under 30 in 2010. In 2015, she was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Lauren resides in New York City where she also serves on the Board of Directors for the Food Bank for NYC. Outside of work, Lauren's most important role is as "Mama" to three boys - James, Max, and Rocky.

We are honored to present the Award for Excellence to Lauren Bush Lauren for founding FEED Projects as they work to alleviate hunger crises and chronic malnutrition through school feeding programs. Every purchase through FEED Projects helps to provide more than just calories, it is the gift of hope for a healthier future. Their efforts have helped 126 million children obtain healthy meals, some of which are the only meal they may have that day.

Corporate Award for Excellence
AHIMSA - Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, Founder & CEO

Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician in Indiana. She received her medical degree from IU School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Northwestern University/Lurie Children's Hospital. She trained at Cincinnati Children's Hospital for Fellowship in Endocrinology.

In 2019, Dr. Mantravadi received the "Physician Mentor of the Year" award at Indiana University School of Medicine, the largest medical school in the country. In 2021, she was named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur- a list of rising impactful business owners in America. She is also a board member for The Patachou Foundation - an Indianapolis based organization serving children facing food insecurity as well as The Children's Museum of Indianapolis Environmental Sustainability Initiative.

We honor AHIMSA and its founder and CEO, Dr. Manasa Mantravadi for their commitment to creating safe, plastic-free dishes for children at home and in their schools. AHIMSA's mission aligns very much with our own - to provide safe products so that families can focus more on mealtime. The company aims to teach the importance of age-based serving sizes and food variety using appropriately portioned dishes for children. The dishes help children to learn about portion sizes and the benefits of moving away from plastic plateware.

Julia V. Jordan Award for Volunteerism & Public Service
Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director,
The Mayor's Office of Food Policy

As Executive Director of New York City's Mayor's Office of Food Policy (MOFP), Kate advises the Mayor on all issues related to food policy and the City's food system.

Under Mayor Adams, Kate leads the City's Good Food Purchasing commitments, focused on increasing access to healthy, sustainable foods for the over 238 million meals and snacks served daily by City agencies, from public schools to senior centers. Through this work, MOFP seeks to provide greater transparency into all aspects of food procured by the City of New York. She also ensures the City's food standards are upheld by agencies. She drives the action to advance Food Forward NYC, the City's first ever 10-year food policy plan, that lays out a comprehensive policy framework to reach a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy food system by 2031.

Kate is a recognized leader, with over two decades of experience fighting for food security and broader anti-poverty solutions in New York City and nationally. She comes to the Mayor's Office from nearly two decades in non-profit organizations and academia.

Master of Ceremonies
Jenny Mollen

Jenny Mollen is a writer, actor, Instagram personality, and New York Times bestselling author of the essay collections I Like You Just the Way I Am and Live Fast Die Hot. Heralded by The Huffington Post as one of the funniest women on both Twitter and Instagram and named one of "Five to Follow" by T Magazine, Jenny wrote a standing column for Parents magazine and has contributed to Cosmopolitan, Glamour, New York, Elle.com, Grub Hub, and Wake Up Call with Katie Couric. 

Jenny Mollen's new book, "Dictator Lunches" takes the power struggle out of mealtime with her inspired collection of over 70 recipes, from filling breakfasts to healthy snacks, lunches, dinners, and even desserts.

 
Auctioneer
Sebastian Clarke

Sebastian is a Senior Vice President at Doyle Auctioneers and Appraisers and the Director of the English and Continental Furniture and Decorative Arts department, he is based out of their Palm Beach, Florida office. Sebastian has over 20 years of experience in the trade and has served as a Specialist in the European Furniture department at Sotheby's, as Director of the English and Continental furniture department at Freeman's, and most recently as Director of Trusts and Estates at Rago Auctions. Sebastian is a featured appraiser on the hit PBS show Antiques Roadshow and has been for the past 13 years. He is regularly featured as a specialist in furniture, decorative arts, sculpture and metalwork, and silver.

Mr. Clarke sits on the Board of Directors for the Appraisers Association of America. He is a USPAP compliant certified member of the association, a featured contributor to CNN's Out Front with Erin Burnett, and has been a member of the vetting committee for the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art, and Antiques Show.

For more than 20 years Sebastian has served as an auctioneer for major auction houses, non-profits, charities, schools and other 501c organizations throughout the United States.

Sebastian and his wife, Katherine live in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Spoons Across America National Spokesperson
Jacques Pepin

Jacques Pepin A former columnist for The New York Times, Pepin writes a quarterly column for Food & Wine and has participated in the Food & Wine Aspen Classic almost every year since its inception in 1983. Pepin has been Head of Special Programs at the International Culinary Center in New York since 1989 and an adjunct faculty member of Boston University since 1984. Pepin is the recipient of three of the French government's highest honors: he is a Chevalier de L'Ordre National de la Legion d' Honneur, Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1997) and a Chevalier de L'Ordre du Merite Agricole(1992). Pepin is a founder of The American Institute of Wine and Food, a member of the International Association of Cooking Professionals, and is on the board of trustees of the James Beard Foundation.

In 2015, Jacques was the first recipient of the Spoons Across America Award for Excellence and serves as the national spokesperson for the organization.

Prior Honorees 

Individual Award for Excellence

Chef Jacques Pepin

Gail Simmons

 Rachael Ray

Andrew Zimmern

Jose Andres

Daniel Boulud

Corporate Award for Excellence

New York Times Food Section (Sam Sifton)

Ferguson Enterprises

Julia V. Jordan Award for Volunteerism & Public Service

Robert "Chef Bobo" Surles

Diane Harris Brown

Founders and Board of Directors of Spoons Across America

Who We Are

Spoons Across America is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating children, teachers, and families about the benefits of healthy eating. Spoons Across America was founded in 2001 by a group of educators, chefs, and food professionals to increase awareness of the importance of food and nutrition education to the health and well-being of children and their families.

In New York City, Spoons Across America teaches five years of comprehensive programming (Food Explorers, Farm to Book, Take a Taste, Recipe Days, and Choose Your Plate) to thousands of children in public schools every year. This immersive teaching method provides children with consistent, weekly instruction and hands-on activities around food, nutrition, and taste.

In 2019, we created The Food Exploration Project - Schools and Spoons Cooking Club for schools and community-based organizations. Both programs include hands-on activities to taste new and familiar foods, learn about where food comes from, develop age-appropriate nutrition and cooking skills, make simple recipes, and have fun while learning about the importance of balanced and healthful eating. In the 2019 to 2020 school year, The Food Exploration Project program was given to 20 schools in Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Oakland, and reached over 5,000 children.

In 2020, we launched our Spoons at Home programs: The Food Exploration Project - Homeschooling, Food Explorers Club, Farm to Book Storytime, and Food Explorers Challenge Series for parents to teach our programs in their homes to their children. Today, over 7,000 children in 50 states are participating in a Spoons Across America home program.

This year, we introduced the Food Explorers Wellness Fair for schools, after-school programs, and communities. Food Explorers Wellness Fair is a one-day activity packed fair for children to explore elements of taste, food groups, food sourcing, and to learn how to make healthy food choices. At the fair, children become "Food Explorers" as they journey through five stations and learn about each topic through hands-on and physical activities. This program was made possible due to the generosity shown at last year's 20th Anniversary Gala.

Please click here to learn more about Spoons Across America's programs.