Your Kids' Food Basket Team
Leadership
Staff
Board and Advisory Members
Inspired by our mission, every board and committee member is dedicated to making an impact in West Michigan.
Board of Directors
Mary Command – President and Treasurer
Williams Group
Jessie Jones – Vice President
Corewell Health
Mario Cascante – Secretary
Luna Restaurant Group
Mary K. Hoodhood – Founder
Menaka Abel
Request Foods
Charen Buyce
StitchFix
Matthew Cortez
Superintendent of Muskegon Public Schools
Graciela Cruz
Amway
Timothy Dudley
Rhoades McKee
Max Gibbs
Dr. Ronald Grifka
University of Michigan Health-West
Bob Kaser
Grand Rapids Griffins
Phalesha Kyes
By Phalesha Events, LLC
Keith Rothstein
Meijer
Phil Sims
Integrity Tree Service
Muskegon Advisory Board
Chair
Stan Miller
Vice-Chair
Elizabeth Briseño
Curtis Beene
Rob Cook
Joy Evans
LaKisha Harris
Tony Laskowicz
Okeelah McBride
Jillian Meloche
Mistelle Serio
Sarah Smith
Andy Usik
Michele Vanderlinde
Ottawa + Allegan Advisory Board
Advisory Board Co-Chairs
Barret Bloenk
Boyd Feltman
Nora Balgoyen
Tracy Brower
Penny Bursma
Rosemary Ervine
Andrew Herlein
Scott Potter
Carolyn Stich
Tracy Umbenhour
Kids' Food Basket Committees
The Ambassador Committee is comprised of members of our community that would like to represent Kids’ Food Basket in spaces that staff members do not have the capacity to fill. This committee will search out strategic opportunities for members to speak to the community on behalf of Kids’ Food Basket. Both staff and the committee team will gather to discuss availability of group to attend events or gatherings in the communities we serve and decide what aligns well with the promotion and mission of Kids’ Food Basket.
While members of this committee will have training on public speaking and Kids’ Food Basket related material, ideally we are looking for committee members that meet at least one of the following: have a variety of community connections; have a fair amount of availability on weeknights or weekends to fit the attendance needs; has past or current public speaking knowledge; can easily connect with and seek out community members to talk to of all diverse backgrounds and ages. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
The Evaluation Task Force will help establish and advise on the three-year strategic plan for evaluation at Kids’ Food Basket. This will include ensuring we have a sound Theory of Change for the organization, Logic Models for each of our programs, that the data we are collecting and the data collection methods we are utilizing are sufficient for measuring program outputs and outcomes. The committee will also weigh in on evaluation software, provide considerations for analyses, and ensure that the lens of equity is applied throughout our evaluation practices. The task force may also aid with complex analysis methodologies, the creation of data visualizations, and help reduce bias in our evaluation plans and analyses.
Ideal members of the evaluation committee would include evaluation professionals from nonprofits, universities, or consulting firms; business or data analysts; economists; individuals with extensive experience in software such as Excel, Power BI, and NVivo; anyone involved in assessing the impacts of programs designed to reduce food insecurity or improve health outcomes; or teachers, principals or school administrators who have experience assessing interventions and program outcomes with students. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
The Finance Committee is delegated fiduciary duties by the Board of Directors. Oversight duties include quarterly review of financials, annual budget review, annual independent audit participation and as needed projects. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
The Fund Development Committee collaborates with Kids’ Food Basket Development Team to recruit new potential financial donors. With support from the Development Team, members will explore prospects within their personal and professional networks and create a plan to engage them with Kids’ Food Basket’s mission. Members also participate in a variety of annual activities such as donor stewardship calls and events. Lastly, the committee provides valuable input on Kids’ Food Basket’s organization wide fundraising initiatives. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
A new committee in the works! If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
The Marketing Committee collaborates with Kids’ Food Basket Marketing and Communications team to increase the organization’s revenue through various marketing tactics. With support from this group, members will explore prospects within their personal and professional networks and create a plan to engage new Kids’ Food Basket champions.
As seasoned marketing and communication professionals, we want to utilize your expertise and skills to collaborate on new marketing strategy and tactics, particularly digital giving opportunities.
In addition, we ask that members participate in a variety of annual activities such as donor stewardship events and spirit campaigns such as Feast for Kids and Go Orange. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
Students on the YAB will spend the year learning more about Kids’ Food Basket, fundraising, and building community. They will also oversee bringing “Kids’ Food Basket Week” to their school during the month of March. The board meets once per month to work on planning for this event with other students (both from their school and other schools). If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
The Young Professionals Board at Kids’ Food Basket is dedicated to growing our future generation of Young Professionals in both our non-profit and for-profit communities. Members will range between the ages of 18-35. The goal of this committee is to cultivate members with learning opportunities and allow agency with guidance over Kids’ Food Basket event planning, community engagement, and financial development.
Members should want to be engaged in philanthropy. All backgrounds and knowledge levels are welcome. Ideal members would have at least one of the following characteristics: Interest in learning about non-profit work, from development to education; mindset of growth and creativity for the future of Kids’ Food Basket; and the commitment to educating yourself on all aspects of our growing society in relation to food access. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
For 20 years, Kids’ Food Basket has embodied diversity, equity and love, which has positioned us as leaders in community health. We believe that good food is the foundation of good health and good health is the foundation to a good future. This is essential to creating a stronger and healthier West Michigan. The advisory board in conjunction with Kids’ Food Basket Leadership, will help lead the advisory board to ensure Kids’ Food Basket Ottawa + Allegan is meeting its programmatic goals. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.
For 20 years, Kids’ Food Basket has embodied diversity, equity and love, which has positioned us as leaders in community health. We believe that good food is the foundation of good health and good health is the foundation to a good future. This is essential to creating a stronger and healthier West Michigan. The advisory board in conjunction with Kids’ Food Basket Leadership, will help lead the advisory board to ensure Kids’ Food Basket Muskegon is meeting its programmatic goals. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact philanthropy@kidsfoodbasket.org.