The Chef Ann Foundation gets schools cooking. We help schools replace ultraprocessed foods with fresh, healthy, and delicious scratch-cooked meals that nourish kids and protect the planet. 

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About Us
Why Cooking in Schools Matters
Co-Founder Chef Ann Cooper
Co-Founder Mara Fleishman
Our Team
Board of Directors
Financials & Annual Reports
Employment

From the cafeteria to the Capitol, we're on a mission to transform the school food system. Learn about our programs, research, and policy initiatives.

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Programs
Get Schools Cooking
Salad Bars to Schools
School Food Institute
The Lunch Box
Bulk Milk
Values-Aligned Purchasing Collectives
Specialized Programming
Research & Evaluation
Policy & Advocacy
Healthy School Food Pathway
California Pre-Apprenticeship
Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship
New York Pre-Apprenticeship
Virginia Pre-Apprenticeship
National Fellowship

What does it take to get better school food on kids' trays? Explore our blog stories, news, statements, webinars, and research.

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Blog
News
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You can help schools serve fresher, tastier meals to kids that are good for them and the planet. 

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Programs for Schools
Newsletters
Policy Action Alerts
Parent Advocacy Toolkit
Webinar Series

Everyone has a role to play in transforming school food. Your gift fuels this movement, helping ensure every child has access to healthy, nourishing meals at school. Join us in changing the way we feed our students.

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The Lunch Box: Recipes & Resources for Schools
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WHO WE ARE

The Chef Ann Foundation gets schools cooking. We help schools replace ultraprocessed foods with fresh, healthy, and delicious scratch-cooked meals that nourish kids and protect the planet. 

Visit Overview
About Us
Why Cooking in Schools Matters
Co-Founder Chef Ann Cooper
Co-Founder Mara Fleishman
Our Team
Board of Directors
Financials & Annual Reports
Employment

WHAT WE DO

From the cafeteria to the Capitol, we're on a mission to transform the school food system. Learn about our programs, research, and policy initiatives.

Visit Overview
Programs
Get Schools Cooking
Salad Bars to Schools
School Food Institute
The Lunch Box
Bulk Milk
Values-Aligned Purchasing Collectives
Specialized Programming
Research & Evaluation
Policy & Advocacy
Healthy School Food Pathway
California Pre-Apprenticeship
Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship
New York Pre-Apprenticeship
Virginia Pre-Apprenticeship
National Fellowship

IMPACT & INSIGHTS

What does it take to get better school food on kids' trays? Explore our blog stories, news, statements, webinars, and research.

Visit Overview
Blog
News
Press Releases
Policy Statements
Webinar Series
Publications & Resources
Program Evaluations

GET INVOLVED

You can help schools serve fresher, tastier meals to kids that are good for them and the planet. 

Visit Overview
Programs for Schools
Newsletters
Policy Action Alerts
Parent Advocacy Toolkit
Webinar Series

SUPPORT US

Everyone has a role to play in transforming school food. Your gift fuels this movement, helping ensure every child has access to healthy, nourishing meals at school. Join us in changing the way we feed our students.

Visit Overview
Donate
Ways to Give
Our Funders
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Valerie Chesnik

she/her

Director of Major Gifts

Valerie joins the Chef Ann Foundation team after a decade in educational philanthropy from K-12 through university. In her role as Director of Major Gifts, she focuses on building and strengthening partnerships with donors to have the highest level of impact and continue the excellence of the Chef Ann Foundation into the future.

Valerie Chesnik

she/her

Director of Major Gifts

Valerie joins the Chef Ann Foundation team after a decade in educational philanthropy from K-12 through university. In her role as Director of Major Gifts, she focuses on building and strengthening partnerships with donors to have the highest level of impact and continue the excellence of the Chef Ann Foundation into the future.

Prior to joining the Chef Ann Foundation, Valerie worked for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and the Madison Public Schools Foundation. Throughout her career, she has been guided by the belief that donors can have an impact at any level. In addition, Valerie has seen firsthand the need for students to be properly nourished before they are able to learn.

Valerie resides in Wisconsin with her husband, son, and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, swimming, baking, and traveling as often as she can.

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Who We Are

The Chef Ann Foundation is dedicated to promoting whole-ingredient, scratch-cooking in schools. Scratch-cooking enables schools to serve the healthiest, tastiest meals so that kids are well-fed and ready to learn.

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Our Mission

Ensure that school food professionals have the resources, funding and support they need to provide fresh, healthy, delicious, cook from scratch meals that support the health of children and our planet.

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Why School Food Matters

American kids start their life-path in K–12 schools where they learn the skills necessary to thrive & meet their potential. While the country debates the best ways to teach them math, science & English, we spend little to no time on food & nutrition.

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Chef Ann Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS. 
Tax ID Number: 26-2496810.

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