It is almost more courageous to focus on the blight of children in this country and acknowledge that there is a problem right here in the US. Children are receiving very little nutrition and food. They go to school malnourished and fail to study because their stomachs are empty. Federal programs exist and remain unused. And the cycle of poverty and despair continues. Children do not study if they are always hungry. How could they?
Amidst all the economic turmoil and political upheaval, there has been little time to recognize some of the unsung heroes coming out of that CGI convening in September. There are those that make up the fabric of social philanthropy giving from deep in their souls and hearts to change things in this world. One of those is the work of Gary Davis, the CEO of East Side Entrees who has committed to help feed the hungry children of the US, and begin breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and despair. We are talking about programs being launched right here at home base: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Enter stage left at CGI, is the Silent Hero Grant Pilot program sponsored by "got breakfast" that focuses on the development of a pilot program for 600,000 children in need. It is designed to bring these children into the School Breakfast and Summer Food Service Programs. This program is for "at risk" children who live here in the US.
Gary Davis is one of those quiet voices who are committed to breaking the cycle of poverty and despair in this country where no child should be left hungry. He during one of the most risky economic times has stepped up to commit $9M, and the resources of his company to help reach more of 14M children "living in food insecure households" with critical sustenance.
So with a unique approach, Davis and his company teamed up with the "got breakfast?" folks to provide the necessary startup capital and innovative products to bridge the gap between those that are hungry and the food. Remarkably, the approach he architected will fuel the anemic U. S. School Breakfast Programs throughout the designated states and help close the gap between "eligible and actual participation." The bottom line is that he figured out how to make the existing federal programs work with their financing, products and services delivering food to those in need.
Exemplifying a new class of social philanthropists, Gary combines his acumen, investment dollars and muscle to make the wheels turn for children throughout the US. Somehow the Clinton Global Initiative knows how to bring all of these people together, molding them to one another, and providing them platforms for achievements. Raising over $8B and 250 new commitments this September, CGI must be doing something right.