Aiming to Multiply our Impact

Above Image: Students having lunch at Circle City Prep.

The Patachou Foundation's newest initiative that returns scratch cooking to school cafeterias, PataSchool, will add a second partner school to its roster in the fall. The Patachou Foundation doubled its footprint last year by launching PataSchool at Circle City Prep, where it now serves over 4,000 meals each week to kids.

In order to grow this program, the current Executive Director, Matthew Feltrop, will transition to a new role as Executive Director of PataSchool. "We believe quality school meals are the most efficient route to childhood food security, and our early outcomes reflect this. PataSchool leverages our years of culinary experience and magnifies the voice of the community to create a lunch tray that kids and families can be excited about.”

“After nearly ten years in the hunger relief sector, I’m confident that the hunger relief system must crack a different code to solve hunger— a code that goes beyond only meeting immediate needs. PataSchool is just one of The Patachou Foundation’s innovative solutions using food as an agent for lasting change. We are excited to be able to grow this program and, under Matthew’s guidance, to amplify its impact”.

Martha Hoover, Founder of The Patachou Foundation

Feltrop served as The Patachou Foundation’s first Executive Director, hired shortly after its founding nearly 10 years ago. A Forbes 30 under 30 semifinalist, Feltrop was recently recognized as a Bloomberg Fellow at Johns Hopkins University for his work at The Patachou Foundation, and is soon to complete his Masters of Public Health there.

At the same time, The Patachou Foundation’s Board of Directors hired Jennifer Pope Baker to serve as the organization’s President & CEO. Baker previously served as the President of Women’s Fund of Central Indiana for nearly 24 years. Said Baker, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the extraordinary work that was launched by Martha Hoover in 2013.”

“Jennifer is an innovative and impactful leader, and we believe her leadership will help accelerate The Patachou Foundation’s critical mission of helping children flourish with nutritious and tasty food.”

Eric Bruun, Board of Directors Chairperson

The Patachou Foundation empowers schools to fight hunger with from-scratch cafeterias and it equips youth via its food-career-focused Food Fellowship training program. In 2023, The Patachou Foundation will celebrate its 10-year anniversary and serve its 500,000th meal.