12/13/2021

Tusk Philanthropies Announces 2022 Anti-Hunger Campaigns As Food Insecurity Remains High Across U.S.

Tusk Philanthropies doubles down on expanding food access for elementary, high school, and college students

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2021 -- Tusk Philanthropies, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger in the United States, today announced its 2022 grant recipients. The nonprofit runs coordinated anti-hunger campaigns in cities and states to pass legislation that expands nutrition programs. It will provide resources and funding to eight organizations selected to run campaigns focused on enacting political and policy changes to reduce food insecurity in their local communities. The eight grantees include Hunger Free Vermont, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, The Greater Boston Food Bank, Hunger Free New Jersey, Feeding Kentucky, D.C. Hunger Solutions, Maryland Hunger Solutions, and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

"Because of pandemic-induced emergency food assistance measures, we've seen one- or two-year demonstrations of policies that our partners on the ground have backed for years – like universal school meals," said Bradley Tusk, CEO and Founder of Tusk Philanthropies. "We now know the difference school meals, directly into the mouths of kids, can make to children, their families, and their communities, and we need to keep that going. Using our political campaign-like approach, we support our local partners who work diligently day-to-day to provide security to those in the most need by providing that extra push to pass legislation that is on the cusp of being politically palatable."

Tusk Philanthropies will fund eight grantees to run seven campaigns in the 2022 legislative session with the following partners on the ground:

Hunger Free Vermont: Campaign for universal school meals, which would make breakfast and lunch permanently free to all public school students.
Mass Law Reform Institute and The Greater Boston Food Bank: The second part of a two-year campaign to pass legislation to provide better access to food for tens of thousands of public college students.
Hunger Free New Jersey: Campaign to increase income eligibility for free school meals, which would aim to capture food insecure families that frequently fall through the cracks.
Feeding Kentucky: Campaign to explicitly permit eating breakfast during instructional time.
D.C. Hunger Solutions: Campaign for universal school meals, which would make breakfast and lunch permanently free to all public school students.
Maryland Hunger Solutions: Campaign for universal school meals, which would make breakfast and lunch permanently free to all public school students.
Food Bank of Northern Nevada: Campaign to eliminate the cost of reduced price meals for over one hundred thousand children.

Tusk Philanthropies focuses on achieving its goals primarily through effecting legislative change and funds, develops and manages campaigns to pass laws that enable states to take advantage of existing federal funding for meal programs and nutrition assistance. To date, Tusk Philanthropies has helped secure federal and state dollars to pass legislation in fifteen states.

"After another pandemic year, there are so many people going hungry — including 13 million children. We focus on flexing our political muscle to fund and run coordinated state campaigns, which has resulted in passing legislation in fifteen states in just four grant cycles," said Tusk Philanthropies Anti-Hunger Campaign Director Lisa Quigley. "We are determined to continue that momentum, and we are excited about the partners and campaigns we have chosen to make that happen." Quigley joined Tusk Philanthropies this year as the Anti-Hunger Campaign Director.

About Tusk Philanthropies

Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of political strategist Bradley Tusk, is focused on making sure that people who are hungry have enough food to eat. Ensuring people have access to food is an immediate problem that the organization addresses every year by funding, developing, and managing legislative campaigns to expand and strengthen access to nutrition programs like Breakfast After the Bell, Universal School Meals, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To date, Tusk Philanthropies has helped secure state and federal funding to support school meals programs in Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington. To learn more, visit tuskphilanthropies.com.

Media Contact:
Dani Frese
dani@tuskstrategies.com

06/24/2021

Letters: Free lunch | Gun violence | Historical accuracy | WNBA is welcome | Insulting dismissal | Oversimplifying Nicaragua

Free school lunch plan could be transformative

Gov. Gavin Newsom is currently considering a proposal from the state Legislature that would allocate $650 million annually to offer school meals free of charge to all students. This investment would create lasting, meaningful change in the lives of students across Oakland Unified School District and the state.

Free school meals have been a lifeline for millions of families during the pandemic. Since March 2020 Oakland Unified School District alone has served 15 million meals during distance learning. The Legislature’s budget proposal would provide schools with critical ongoing resources to continue nourishing our students.

The research is clear. Students do better when they have consistent access to nutritious meals. Hungry students struggle to focus and learn. Increasing the reach of school meal programs improves academic performance and student well-being.

We urge Newsom to support students and school districts across our state by enacting this historic investment in school meals.

– Preston Thomas Chief Systems and Services OfficerOakland Unified School District Oakland

Gun violence shatters nation’s newest holiday

Saturday, June 19, 2021, should have been a wonderful day for celebrating the nation’s newest national holiday, Juneteenth.

Instead, we had Oakland’s first celebration of this holiday, at Lake Merritt, ruined by senseless gun violence (“One killed, six wounded in shooting near Lake Merritt,” Page B1, June 21). It is just heartbreaking that people can’t gather for events without someone using guns to settle some petty dispute. How did we get to this point? Why does this have to keep happening everywhere?

We shouldn’t have to fear public gatherings but, sadly, that’s our reality now.

– Morris Soublet Hayward

Article overstates effect of emancipation order

The “history” lesson from Harriette Cole was interesting (“Learning about the history of Juneteenth,” Page B21, June 19), but she would be better off reading the history before trying to teach it.

The Emancipation Proclamation did not free all the slaves “nationwide.” It only applied to the slaves in the secessionist states. The Northern states and the four “border states” were exempt; business as usual.

Slavery would not be abolished nationwide until the 13th Amendment was ratified after the war was over. An interesting article, nonetheless.

– Ronald Clarke Pleasant Hill

Bay Area is ready to welcome WNBA

WNBA, here? Yes, yes, yes.

Per a sports story June 22 (“Welts sees WNBA team within 5 years,” Page C5, June 22), Warriors President and COO Rick Welts says we’ll have a WNBA team here “within 5 years.”

Finally! I’ve been a WNBA fan since its 1997 inception. I drove to Sacramento to see the Monarchs games. Before that, I drove to San Jose to see the ABL Lasers play.

To Mr. Welts and his successor Brandon Schneider: I’ll buy a season ticket and my behind will be in a close-up seat for every home game. And please hurry it up. Five more years is too long to wait.

– J. A. Thompson Richmond

Dismissing conservative thought is insulting

In response to Trish Elliot’s comments in “Columnists’ partisanship does readers no favors” on June 22 (Page A6), she may well not agree with Mr. Hanson and Mr. Thiessen, but to infer that those of us that agree with them are somehow unintelligent and incapable of critical thought is insulting and seems to be somewhat typical of some thinking on the left.

– Frank Lemon Concord

Nuance lacking in media reports on Nicaragua

The current situation in Nicaragua is much more complicated than a government disqualifying political opponents.

According to Friends of Latin America, the situation involves “a combination of people engaged in real crimes claiming to be presidential candidates before they get arrested, an incredible amount of U.S. regime-change money flowing into the country for years, and Nicaraguan government institutions trying to put a stop to it.”

The U.S. has a history of supporting political opposition. In 1990 the U.S. funded 14 opposition parties and encouraged them to unite. The Sandinistas lost the election, although they had more support than any other individual party. Overly simplistic reporting on Nicaragua can give a false impression that can be used to justify U.S. aid to opposition parties.

American aid to Nicaragua must be solely humanitarian and have no ties to a particular political party, especially in an election year.

– Laura Reed Diablo

State must stop punishing landlords

Re. “Extend eviction freeze to avoid more homeless,” Page A12, June 20:

How much is enough? Some owners have been deprived of rents since April 2020. Now you recommend extending until year’s end.

Don’t confuse what you are doing with an act for the greater good. There are forces who want to abolish rent, period. Nobody cares about the financial destruction of an owner who’s worked years to purchase a rental property. They depend on that income. Their reward is receiving 80% of lost rent, which they haven’t seen yet. Beginning in December to June’s end, tenants were to pay 25% of the rent at the end of June; if the extension is to January, then the minimum’s due at the end.

It is time to end this destructive course on existing housing.

– David Eisbach San Jose

06/18/2021

State passes bill making it easier for seniors, people with disabilities to receive SNAP benefits

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The Texas Legislature passed State Bill 224 this week, which creates a simplified application and recertification process for those in need of SNAP benefits.

“After the year that we just came out of, where food access was a big deal, with our seniors, it’s huge,” said Zack Wislon, executive director of the High Plains Food Bank

In the past, seniors were discouraged from applying for benefits due to a certification process Wilson described as difficult.

“The application is burdensome,” said Wislon. “A lot of our seniors have expressed, [they’re] not going to really just hop online and maybe [they] don’t have access in [their] rural area to broadband.”

Wilson said the application process was particularly difficult on seniors living in rural areas.

“About 75% of our food leaves Potter and Randall County going into our rural counties,” said Wilson. “Another comment we hear is, [they] wish [we] had more, had something else to help supplement...and this bill will hopefully do that and be a tool that they can use to help move forward.”

State Bill 224 creates a shortened application process for first-time beneficiaries.

For those enrolled, the bill extends the recertificaiton time from 12 months to 36 months and eliminates the yearly interview requirement.

The bill also enacts a data-matching software that notifies medicaid beneficiaries that they are eligible for SNAP benefits.

Currently, Feeding Texas estimates 22% of Texas seniors face food insecurity and predict only about half of eligible senior citizens are enrolled in SNAP.

Wilson says he is already seeing the affects of this bill on seniors.

“At the food bank, we have been getting calls about this...they’ve heard about it and have expressed overwhelming interest,” said Wilson. “We’ve had one individual call who is a grandmother [with] custody of her grand kids and is now raising them and is struggling to put food on the table and is looking for anything that would help.”

The bill also applies to those with disabilities, who also experience difficulty applying for SNAP benefits.

“By passing this bill, we are ensuring the our most vulnerable Texans -- seniors and those with disabilities who have no earned income -- will receive the nutritional assistance they need in the most efficient manner possible,” said author of the bill, Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock).

“The ease of use for everyone and the access to food they can get is the major win of this bill passing,” added Wilson.

06/17/2021

New Texas Law Simplifies Access To SNAP For Vulnerable Populations, Aims To Reduce Senior Hunger

SB 224 simplifies the SNAP certification and recertification requirements for households comprised of senior citizens or individuals with disabilities

AUSTIN, Texas, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SB 224, authored by Texas State Senator Charles Perry and sponsored by Rep. Armando Walle, became law yesterday after being signed by Governor Greg Abbott.

The legislation creates a simplified certification and recertification process for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants who are senior citizens and/or people with disabilities living on fixed incomes. The simplified requirements include the waiving of the recertification interview, a shortened application form with simplified verification requirements, and a 36-month enrollment period after each certification and recertification. The bill also enacts a data-matching program to notify eligible Medicaid beneficiaries that they are eligible to enroll in SNAP.

Before the pandemic, Texas had the fifth-highest rate of senior food insecurity in the nation, with 11% of Texas seniors at risk for hunger. While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt, this figure is likely to have doubled. The state also has some of the lowest rates of senior participation in SNAP. Due to barriers in the application process, only half of the roughly 500,000 income-eligible Texas seniors are enrolled in SNAP.

"By passing this bill, we are ensuring that our most vulnerable Texans — seniors and people with disabilities who have no earned income — will receive the nutritional assistance they need in the most efficient manner possible," said Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), the bill's author. "This bill will also ensure that we are making the best possible use of taxpayer dollars by establishing more efficient reverification procedures for factors like senior status and disability status, which do not change."

"SNAP is a proven and effective tool for helping our seniors and people with disabilities fight hunger," said Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston), the House champion for the bill. "This bill is a critical step in ensuring the SNAP program is run accurately and efficiently while getting necessary resources to vulnerable Texans."

The new law will take effect on September 1, 2021.

"Difficulty applying online and complex documentation requirements have been barriers to SNAP for far too long," said Celia Cole, Chief Executive Officer of Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks that was instrumental in the law's passage. "Our state is grappling with one of the highest rates of senior food insecurity in the country, and this common-sense law will drive down those numbers. We applaud all supporters of this bill in the Texas Legislature who have taken action to make sure nutrition assistance is accessible for vulnerable Texans experiencing food insecurity."

Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk, supported Feeding Texas in this legislative effort. To date, Tusk Philanthropies has helped secure a combined $826 million in federal and state funding to guarantee meals to over 5.6 million children across the country.

"We know nutrition benefits programs historically leave seniors and those with disabilities at the frays, even though they're among the most vulnerable," said Tusk. "Far too many seniors and people with disabilities are driven away from SNAP by the complicated, burdensome application process and requirements to stay in the program. I want to thank Governor Abbott, Representative Armando Walle, and Senator Charles Perry for stepping up to address the challenges of senior food insecurity. This is a critical moment in ensuring that no Texan is left behind in the fight against hunger."

About Feeding Texas
Feeding Texas, a member of Feeding America, is a statewide network of food banks leading a unified effort to end hunger in Texas. Their goal is to ensure access to adequate, nutritious food for all Texans, improve the health and financial stability of the communities they serve, and engage all stakeholders in advocating for hunger solutions. Feeding Texas works to educate legislative leaders on the realities of food insecurity and provide state and federal elected officials with critical data, timely analysis, and proven hunger solutions. They work on a statewide level to protect and expand federal and state nutrition, health, and economic opportunity programs to make sure that no Texan goes hungry.

About Tusk Philanthropies
Tusk Philanthropies is focused on making sure that people who are hungry have enough food to eat, and on fixing our democracy by making it exponentially easier to vote. Ensuring people have access to food is an immediate problem that the organization addresses every year by funding, developing, and managing legislative campaigns to expand and strengthen access to nutrition programs like Breakfast After the Bell, Universal School Meals, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Tusk Philanthropies has supported legislative efforts for nutrition programs in Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington. To learn more, visit tuskphilanthropies.com.

Media Contact:
Anna Medica
Director of Communications
amedica@feedingtexas.org
Office: 512-527-3615
Mobile: 318-542-5293

06/01/2021

New Maryland Law Dramatically Expands Access To SNAP Assistance, Anti-Hunger Services For College Students

Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program will address food insecurity on two-and four-year public college and university campuses, which disproportionately affects students of color, former foster youth, and first-generation college students

ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program bill (SB 767/HB 891) sponsored by Senator Mary Washington and Delegate Debra Davis officially became law after passing the Maryland House of Delegates and unanimously passing the State Senate.

The legislation creates a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to be administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Grant funds will go towards efforts such as designating staff to connect eligible students with SNAP application assistance and local SNAP retailers, establishing a system for stigma-free access to community food resources, raising awareness for food insecurity through campus events to reduce stigma, and creating a meal plan swipe sharing program that allows students to donate unused swipes to fellow students in need.

Before the pandemic, a Hope Center study found that of Maryland's 167,000 two and four-year students, 39% had experienced food insecurity in previous weeks. During Covid-19, those numbers worsened — with rates of food insecurity reaching between 42% to 56% among students at two-year institutions and 33% to 42% among those at four-year institutions.

"This is an important moment in no longer turning a blind eye to college students facing barriers to critical support programs," said Senator Mary Washington (D-43), the Senate champion for the bill. "Students at two- and four-year institutions continue to face pronounced levels of food insecurity, and this moment sets Maryland down the path to establishing hunger-free campuses throughout the state."

"We have a duty to help students at our state's higher education institutions meet their basic needs so they can excel both in the classroom and once they graduate," said Delegate Debra Davis (D-28), who sponsored the House companion bill. "By passing SB 767, the Maryland General Assembly is making an important investment in our state's academic and economic success."

The new law will take effect in October 2021. Maryland also gave preliminary approval to the State Fiscal 2023 Year Budget, which includes $150,000 for the Hunger-Free Campus program.

"This is a big step forward in addressing food insecurity in our campus communities," said Michael J. Wilson, Director of Maryland Hunger Solutions, the statewide anti-hunger organization that was instrumental in the law's passage. "This is a smart investment in our state's future, and we applaud the state legislature for their thoughtful recognition and support."

Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk, supported Maryland Hunger Solutions in this legislative effort. To date, Tusk Philanthropies has helped secure more than $326 million in federal funding to support regular school meals programs serving nearly 3.9 million food-insecure children in 14 states.

"We know from past economic downturns that higher rates of hunger last long after the country goes back to 'normal.' That's especially true for college kids, who are juggling tuition and housing costs, and often don't have the resources to feed themselves," said Tusk. "We're very glad to see Maryland lawmakers taking action to make sure this vulnerable group gets fed."

About Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland Hunger Solutions works to end hunger and improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of children and families in Maryland. To learn more about Maryland Hunger Solution, visit www.mdhungersolutions.org.

Media Contact:
Maryland Hunger Solutions
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
410-528-0021, ext. 3018

02/01/2021

Tusk Philanthropies Announces 2021 Anti-Hunger Campaigns As More Than 50 Million Americans Face Food Insecurity Amid Covid-19

With hunger surging nationwide, political strategist's philanthropy doubles-down on campaign approach to expanding food access

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2021 -- Today, Tusk Philanthropies, the nonprofit created by venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk, announced it is funding five state campaigns in 2021 to expand access to food programs for vulnerable populations.

Tusk Philanthropies funds, develops, and manages campaigns to pass laws that enable states to take advantage of existing federal funding for meal programs and nutrition assistance. To date, Tusk Philanthropies has helped secure more than $176 million in federal funding to support regular school meals programs serving more than 2.1 million food insecure children in 14 states.

"So many programs that could feed people desperately in need – children, senior citizens, college students – are right on the cusp of being politically palatable. Our work is to provide that extra push – to use our political skills and our money to fund and run the campaign to pass ideas like Breakfast After the Bell or making it easier for seniors to receive SNAP benefits," said Tusk.

"Last year, nearly one in four American households experienced food insecurity, and those numbers continue to rise," said outgoing Tusk Philanthropies President Sheila Nix. "Despite the legislative and budget challenges of 2020, we were able to work alongside our grantees to secure more than $31.1 million in federal funding to provide regular school meals for more than 220,000 children, and helped more than 1.4 million seniors secure their SNAP benefits. We are determined to continue that progress and we believe we have chosen the right partners to help make it happen." Nix recently departed Tusk Philanthropies to join the Biden Administration.

In the 2021 legislative session, Tusk is funding campaigns in five states with the following partners on the ground:

Arizona Food Bank Network: Campaign to increase access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for 160,000 seniors by eliminating administrative barriers through the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP).
Maryland Hunger Solutions: Campaign to increase access to anti-hunger services for two-and four-year higher education institutions.
Mass Law Reform Institute: Campaign to maximize federal dollars to feed college students and lay the groundwork for Hunger Free Campus legislation.
Feeding Texas: Campaign to increase access to SNAP for as many as 37,500 seniors by eliminating administrative barriers.
Hunger Free Vermont: Campaign for universal school meals, which would make breakfast and lunch free to all public school students, eliminating $1 million in school meal debt, and unlocking access to $10 million in federal funds.

About Tusk Philanthropies
Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk, is focused on making sure that people who are hungry have enough food to eat, and on fixing our democracy by making it exponentially easier to vote. Ensuring people have access to food is an immediate problem that the organization addresses every year by funding, developing, and managing legislative campaigns to expand and strengthen access to nutrition programs like Breakfast After the Bell, Universal School Meals, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To date, Tusk Philanthropies has helped secure more than $176 million in federal funding to support school meals programs serving over 2.1 million food insecure children in Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington. To learn more, visit tuskphilanthropies.com.

Media Contact:
Kate Preziosi
kate@tuskstrategies.com

08/05/2020

Tusk Philanthropies Commends Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker Signing Urgent Anti-Hunger Bill into Law

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 -- Tusk Philanthropies yesterday applauded Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker for signing Breakfast After the Bell legislation into law (H.4218). The bill goes into effect immediately due to an attached emergency preamble.

This legislation will be officially implemented in the 2022-2023 school year. It will require all public K-12 schools in Massachusetts with 60% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program to offer breakfast after the school day has begun. Serving breakfast for all students after the bell, as part of the school day, has a proven track record of dramatically increasing breakfast participation among the children that need it most.

Before the pandemic, 1 in 9 children faced food insecurity in Massachusetts. Now, that number is 1 in 5. Massachusetts law requires high-poverty schools to provide breakfast to eligible students. But because breakfast is typically offered before the school day begins, just 40% of eligible students participate. More than ever, we are aware that solving the challenges contributing to lower participation is critical as communities struggle to recover from this crisis.

"This is a win for Massachusetts. Pre-pandemic, this bill made a lot of sense. The pandemic has only furthered the urgency and need for this bill, as we grapple with rising food insecurity, school funding challenges, and the need to limit cafeteria use to contain the virus. For years to come, we know Breakfast After the Bell will help close achievement gaps, improve physical and mental health, and even better students' earning potential as adults," said bill sponsor Rep. Andy Vargas. "In a time of uncertainty, we must give the children of Massachusetts the best opportunities and means to succeed."

"150,000 students will now have access to breakfast. This legislation is the most impactful way to ensure that kids eat breakfast at school, while also tapping into an estimated $25 million in USDA reimbursements every year. This was the win we needed right now," said bill sponsor Rep. Aaron Vega.

"No child who shows up to school hungry can possibly be ready to learn," said Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). "I have seen firsthand the success of breakfast after the bell in my own district, and I am confident this new law will ensure that thousands of children across Massachusetts will now have access to the nutritious and stigma-free breakfast that they need to start their day. This policy has been one of my foremost legislative priorities for many years now, and I am grateful to everyone who played a role in making this day a reality for our Commonwealth's students."

Project Bread led the legislative effort in partnership with Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk. Tusk Philanthropies has seen recent success securing Breakfast After the Bell for students in Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and expanded access to food stamps in North Carolina. For nearly 25 years, Project Bread has been partnering with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement breakfast after the bell programs in districts and schools across the state. Their efforts to pass Breakfast After the Bell legislation have been supported by the Greater Boston Food Bank and non-profit partners in the Rise & Shine coalition.

"Getting this bill over the finish line has never been more timely. In a time of unprecedented unemployment and food insecurity, this legislation will contribute to children's well-being and educational success in Massachusetts," said Tusk. "I want to thank Governor Charlie Baker for signing this much-needed effort into law and to Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representatives Aaron Vega and Andy Vargas for sponsoring the bill. Thank you also to the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Education Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Alice Peisch, as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Ways and Means Chairs Senator Michael Rodrigues and Representative Aaron Michelwitz.

"Breakfast after the Bell will have an enormous impact on the health and food security of our kids in Massachusetts at what a time when more families than ever are at risk of experiencing hunger. School Breakfast fuels learning for the day and relieves the household grocery budget to help families afford other living expenses," said Erin McAleer, President at Project Bread. "We have been working school by school, district by district for over a decade to increase access to Breakfast because the potential benefit is so significant. Now we can scale that work with urgency so that all students have the chance to learn unencumbered by hunger."

Media Contact:
Dani Frese | dani@tuskstrategies.com

3/25/2020

Tusk Philanthropies Applauds Signage Of The Smart Start Utah Program

SALT LAKE CITY, March 25, 2020 -- Tusk Philanthropies applauds Governor Gary Herbert for signing the Smart Start Utah Program today that expands access to school breakfast in public schools, following the overwhelming passage in both the State House and Senate. Thank you to Representative Dan Johnson and Senator Lyle Hillyard for sponsoring this bill. This expands school breakfast to as many as 35,000 children in the state struggling with hunger. Hungry kids can't learn, and study after study shows that moving breakfast closer to class time means better focus, concentration, and better performance on tests. Utah has the lowest rate of breakfast participation in the country, and this bill will help to take off the front lines of food insecurity in the state. Implementing access to schools breakfast makes their health and education a priority, while tapping into millions of dollars in USDA reimbursements every year. It is a win-win for Utah.

Tusk Philanthropies, the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk, supported Utahns Against Hunger, Utah’s only statewide anti-hunger organization, in this legislative effort. Tusk Philanthropies has seen recent success securing similar legislation for students in Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Tennessee, Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and expanded access to food stamps in North Carolina. For 38 years, Utahns Against Hunger has worked on public policy and advocacy for federal nutrition programs. They have been partnering with the Utah Breakfast Expansion Team to increase school breakfast participation by 7% in addition to this legislative effort.

Media Contact: Kate Preziosi | Kate@tuskstrategies.com

11/20/2019

Massachusetts House Unanimously Passes Critically Needed Anti-Hunger Bill

As many as 150,000 Massachusetts students would get Breakfast After the Bell if passed

Tusk Philanthropies today applauded the Massachusetts House of Representatives for unanimously passing An Act Regarding Breakfast After the Bell (H.4218). The bill moves on to the Senate.

1 in 9 children faces food insecurity in Massachusetts. Massachusetts law requires high-poverty schools to provide breakfast to eligible students. But because breakfast is typically offered before the school day begins, just 39% of eligible students participate. Serving breakfast for all students after the bell, as part of the school day, has a proven track record of dramatically increasing breakfast participation among the children that need it most.

An Act Regarding Breakfast After the Bell would require all public K-12 schools in Massachusetts with 60% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program to offer breakfast after the school day has begun.

"Breakfast participation doubled, from 42% to 85%, in one Haverhill school after it implemented Breakfast After the Bell," said bill sponsor Rep. Andy Vargas. "This program produces results that close achievement and opportunity gaps. Kids who consistently eat breakfast see improvements in academic scores, improved physical and mental health, better school attendance, higher graduation rates, and even better earning potential as adults. This legislation is a no brainer. It is the best thing we can do for our students."

"We expect kids across our student body to come to school ready to learn. But if they haven't eaten, they are focused on their hunger, not their studies," said bill sponsor Rep. Aaron Vega. "Breakfast After the Bell legislation will ensure that low-income students across the state start their day with breakfast, while tapping into an estimated $25 million in USDA reimbursements every year. It's a win-win."

"This bill has the potential to expand access to breakfast for as many as 150,000 students," said Tusk. "I want to thank Representatives Aaron Vega and Andy Vargas for sponsoring the bill. Thank you also to Speaker Robert DeLeo, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education Alice Peisch, and Representatives Paul Tucker, Adrian Madaro, Marjorie Decker, and Mindy Domb for their support. This is a critical bill for the well-being and educational success of Massachusetts students. We look forward to getting this over the finish line next year."

"It is especially fitting that this bill passed the House on the same day that the Massachusetts legislature passed the historic Student Opportunity Act," said Project Bread President Erin McAleer. "Breakfast After the Bell would guarantee that this $1.5 billion investment in our education system is a success by making sure that our kids start their days on full stomachs, ready to learn."

Media Contact:
Kate Preziosi | Kate@tuskstrategies.com

TUSK PHILANTHROPIES COMMENDS CALIFORNIA GOV. NEWSOM FOR SIGNING BAN ON ‘LUNCH SHAMING’

New CA law guarantees state-funded meals even if guardians have unpaid meal fees

Tusk Philanthropies today commended California Governor Gavin Newsom for signing into law SB 265, which requires that all public school students be given state-funded meals, even if their parent or guardian has unpaid school meal fees.

“I’m grateful to Gov. Newsom for once again showing that California is prepared to lead the nation on bringing relief to some of the most vulnerable in our society,” said Bradley Tusk, founder and CEO of Tusk Philanthropies. “Now it’s time for other governors to do the same. Specifically, I’m calling on Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – governors in states where anti-lunch shaming legislation has been introduced before – to take the initiative and make sure no kid is shamed for a family’s lack of resources.”

“Lunch shaming” – when students are deliberately stigmatized so as to incentivize their guardians to pay down lunch debt – is a disgrace. And yet it is common practice in states around the country. Students are given cold meals, prevented from attending graduation, even made to wear stamps that read “I need lunch money.”

About Tusk Philanthropies:
Tusk Philanthropies funds and runs campaigns in states across the U.S. to increase funding for anti-hunger programs like school breakfast and food stamp enrollment.

3/08/2018

Tusk / Montgomery Philanthropies Commends New York State Leaders for Passing Breakfast After the Bell Proposal in State Budget

Crucial hunger initiative will ensure children in schools are fed, improving their ability to learn and succeed

NEW YORK, March 30, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tusk / Montgomery Philanthropies today commended the New York State legislature for passing the Breakfast After the Bell proposal as part of the state budget bill. Breakfast After the Bell is a crucial hunger initiative that allows for schools across the state to provide nutritious meals to students in need. As a result of today's legislative action, the program will be expanded to K-12 schools across the state, with schools having an option whether to provide the meals in the classroom before the school day begins, after first period, or through a "grab and go" option. The budget also provides state funding to help New York's schools implement the program.

The legislative effort was led by Tusk / Montgomery Philanthropies (TMP), the family foundation of venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk, along with local and national advocates. TMP focuses on funding and running anti-hunger campaigns across the country.

Bradley Tusk said: "Thanks to Governor Cuomo, Speaker Heastie, Senator Flanagan and so many members of the General Assembly, 880,000 more children will now have easy access to breakfast in school every single morning. That combats hunger, it helps them focus on their schoolwork and it proves we can be the kind of society that doesn't let people just go hungry."

In addition to today's legislative victory in New York, TMP recently worked with legislative leaders, as well as Governor Inslee, to pass school breakfast legislation in Washington. TMP has also secured the passage of similar legislation in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and is currently leading efforts in New Jersey and Tennessee.

About Tusk / Montgomery Philanthropies:
Tusk / Montgomery Philanthropies funds and runs campaigns in states across the U.S. to increase funding for anti-hunger programs like school breakfast and food stamp enrollment. They are also working to create mobile voting - enabling people to vote in elections on their phones - including a first in the nation mobile voting blockchain pilot program in West Virginia for active duty service members.