Triangle Community Foundation is exactly that: a Foundation by and for the Community of the Triangle. Our fundholder's passion and engagement with us and our community is contagious, and we seek to amplify their work and words of support.
Fundholder Ann Leonard (Hogan Leonard Fund) drives her philanthropy into several causes, with urban farming and child nutrition at top of mind. She shares with us a heartful tribute and message of support for Orange County grantee PORCH Hillsborough and its growing partnership with Hillsborough Community Garden. Read on for Ann’s message of endorsement for PORCH and the strong leadership of Fundraising Chair Linda Leikin.
A Growing Partnership in the Triangle
“During [Linda’s] tenure, she increased the reach from serving about 150 families to almost 600 families a month. She’s done this on a shoe-string budget and has sought out innovative partnerships to evolve the model toward a focus on local, fresh foods by developing ties with local farmers, community gardens, food pantries and Orange County schools. The result has been amazing.
[PORCH] distributes over $623,000 worth of food in Hillsborough and northern Orange County, including 350 boxes of fresh vegetables every month to families in need. They have helped support the Hillsborough Community Garden which doubled its production through PORCH’s support and is now expanding to double its production again. It’s a beautiful partnership.
Twice a year PORCH Hillsborough delivers a semester's worth of healthy snacks to 13 Orange County Schools to help keep kids focused throughout the school day. Most recently, they've helped a highly food insecure school set up it's own choice food pantry.
I'm amazed as I see what they have done beyond the original model to expand reliable access to fresh and nutritious food.
PORCH Hillsborough has had a $65,000 grant through USDA and the Food Bank to buy fresh, locally grown produce from Farmer Food Share. That grant was recently terminated as a result of USDA funding cuts. The grant also allowed purchase of high-quality protein from local farmers as well.
I wanted to introduce Linda to you and Triangle Community Foundation because her work with PORCH Hillsborough has been so innovative and successful. I love seeing the model of engaging the local agricultural community for a win-win scenario. The impact of the work has grown impressively through her focus and I think you would enjoy learning more about it.”
- Ann Leonard, Triangle Community Foundation Fundholder since 2021
Feeling Inspired? Quick Action Steps and Opportunities:
- Consider a grant recommendation to PORCH Hillsborough or Hillsborough Community Garden to continue the impact of feeding families in Orange County!
- Check out PORCH Hillsborough’s upcoming “High Tea” and silent auction on Saturday, May 18th:
- Keep up with PORCH! Newsletter signup!
