Help WANDA Nourish the Next Generation

Most of us can name a woman who fed us.

Maybe she packed our lunch, taught us a recipe, stretched a Sunday dinner, planted a garden, reminded us to drink water, encouraged us through school, or slipped a little money into our hands when we needed it most.

She did more than feed us. She helped us become who we are.

For 10 years, Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA) has celebrated that legacy while preparing the next generation of food sheroes.

This Give 8/28, we are raising $28,000 to support:

• WANDA’s World, an animated cartoon series inspiring children to become healthy eaters, curious readers, and confident leaders.

• WANDA Scholars fund and mentor students to pursue careers across nutrition, agriculture, and food systems.

Because the child reading or watching a Little WANDA story today could become the nutritionist, farmer, physician, educator, researcher, entrepreneur, policymaker, or Food Shero who nourishes us tomorrow.

A story in her hands. A scholarship in her future. 
A place where she can bloom.

 
           Children are already learning what food to want.

They learn from ads, animated characters, social media, video games, school cafeterias, product packaging, friends, and family. The question is not whether stories will shape their relationship with food.

The question is who will tell those stories and what those stories will teach.

WANDA’s World is a culturally grounded children’s food-literacy and edutainment platform led by Little WANDA, a 5-year-old Food Shero and Meal Healer.

Through books, short videos, songs, activities, food friends, family resources, and educator tools, children can learn:

• Where food comes from

• What food does in their bodies

• How food connects them to culture and community

• How to ask questions about food messages

• How they can help “heal the meal”

• Why they belong in the future of food and health

Give 8/28 support will help WANDA create and test an initial collection of Little WANDA learning experiences with children, families, and educators.

We are not simply telling children to eat better. We are giving them better stories to grow with.

Put Opportunity in a Food Shero’s Path. 

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.

WANDA Scholars helps women and students gain the education, mentorship, career guidance, visibility, and professional relationships needed to lead across agriculture, nutrition, dietetics, public health, food media, research, entrepreneurship, and policy.

WANDA has already supported 34 women in the United States and Nigeria pursuing degrees and leadership pathways connected to food, nutrition, and agriculture. The next chapter is to build a more independent scholarship and professional-development fund that can follow a Food Shero wherever she studies and wherever her leadership is needed.

Your Give 8/28 gift can help a scholar:

• Remain on the path to her degree

• Receive career coaching or mentorship

• Attend a professional learning experience

• Gain leadership and communication skills

• Connect with employers and food-system leaders

• See that her knowledge, culture, and community experience belong in the field

A scholarship is not only money for school. It is a vote of confidence in who gets to shape the future.

Help us reach $28,000 by August 28.

WANDA will invest the campaign proceeds in WANDA’s World and in WANDA Scholars.

With full funding, WANDA intends to:

• • Engage 100 young learners with a nutrition edutainment platform supporting caregiver and educator tools

  • Fund 25 college students in food, nutrition, and agriculture careers

  • Provide mentorship and leadership development support for 5 emerging Food Sheroes

Become a Founding Gardener         

When you give during WANDA’s 10th anniversary campaign, you become a Founding Gardener of our next decade.

You become part of a nourishing community:

• • healthy eaters and readers
  • future Food Sheroes
  • stronger families
  • maternal and child health

$28 — Grow a Healthy Eater and Reader

• Help place a culturally affirming food-literacy book and resources into the hands of a young learner.

$82 — Nourish a Family

• Help provide a family, birth workers, and caregivers with food as medicine training

$280 — Support a Food Shero's Career

• Help an emerging leader participate in career coaching, mentorship, or leadership development in the WANDA Academy.

$828 — Help Build WANDA’s World

• Help develop and test culturally grounded stories, videos, music, lessons, games, or digital learning experiences.

$2,800 — Invest in a Food Shero

• Help provide scholarship, mentorship, career coaching, professional development, or leadership support for a WANDA Scholar.

$8,280 — Extend the Sisterhood Supper Table

• Host a memorable catered celebration with a safe, supportive sisterhood to share resources

Remember: The child discovering the power of food today could become the nutritionist, farmer, physician, researcher, educator, entrepreneur, technologist, policymaker, or Food Shero who nourishes us tomorrow.

Thank you for your support. Share if you care.