Frequently Asked Questions What are the Foundation's goals? The Chez Panisse Foundation seeks to educate children about their food choices and the impact those choices have on their health, their communities, and the environment. We strive to: Enable children to make wise and informed food choices. Reconnect kids to fresh food, community, and the environment. Make a cultural shift that positively impacts children's health. Over the next three to five years, we hope to raise the funds necessary to expand, evaluate, and document these programs so they can serve as models nationwide. In the long term, we expect to advocate at the national and state levels for stronger connections between, and greater funding for, national policy on hunger, the environment, agriculture, health, and education. Does the Chez Panisse Foundation make grants to other non-profit organizations? The Chez Panisse Foundation is not currently making grants to organizations other than our programs and/or program affiliates. For a list of potential funders in your area, we suggest visiting the Foundation Center, at www.foundationcenter.org. How can I help the Foundation in its mission? Support our two model programs, the Edible Schoolyard and the School Lunch Initiative, by donating online or contacting the Foundation. What are the Foundation's model programs? Over the past ten years, we have worked to establish groundbreaking models in the Berkeley Unified School District: the Edible Schoolyard and the School Lunch Initiative. The Edible Schoolyard is a working garden, kitchen, and dining classroom that provides experiential learning about food. The School Lunch Initiative is a comprehensive strategy to change district-wide meal programs by integrating changes in the curriculum and transforming the quality of school food. How can I start similar programs in my community? We encourage other communities to learn about our work and to initiate programs in their local communities. Visit the Edible Schoolyard web site to learn more about the program and public tours, or visit the resources section of this site. Who are the Foundation's partners? The School Lunch Initiative is a remarkable public-private partnership founded on a decade-long collaboration with the Berkeley Public Schools. Our partners include the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD), the Center for Ecoliteracy (CEL), the Center for Weight and Health at the University of California, Berkeley (CWH), and the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI). How will the Foundation measure its success? Over the next three years, experienced partners will assess the outcome of our programs. As a result of our work, we anticipate improved participation rates in the school meal program, increased use of local, seasonal foods in school meals, and improved health, behavioral and educational changes in students. What is Alice Waters' role at the Foundation? Alice Waters, president of Chez Panisse Foundation, attends board meetings, speaks publicly about our work, coordinates fundraising activities, and meets personally with potential donors. Ms. Waters receives no salary from the Foundation. What is the relationship between Chez Panisse Foundation and Chez Panisse restaurant? Chez Panisse Foundation and Chez Panisse restaurant are two separate entities, both founded by Alice Waters. Chez Panisse restaurant supports the Foundation with an annual donation and resources for our fundraising, education and outreach efforts.