Grassroots Grocery

?? Exciting milestone: we've just completed Phase 2 of our transformative partnership with JPMorganChase's Force for Good program - and we're prepping for our launch into Phase 3! ?? Through this incredible collaboration, we're revolutionizing our donor CRM system at Grassroots Grocery, supercharging our ability to deliver on our mission. This is exactly what happens when corporate innovation meets community impact! To our phenomenal Force for Good team - your dedication has been nothing short of inspiring: Dan O'Donnell Emre Oguz Hayley Gregor Kimberly Robins Alexandra Malouta Nadine Hashem Olivia Hajjar Radik Tadiashvili Steve Coupet A special shoutout to Jordan Motzkin, our Chief Operating and Technology Officer - your tireless work alongside this incredible team has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life! ?? This partnership exemplifies everything I believe in about the power of corporate-nonprofit collaborations. A special thank you to Rohan Amin for championing this initiative. As we dive into Phase 3, I couldn't be more energized about continuing our mission of neighbors helping neighbors. Together, we're creating lasting change in our communities! ?? #ForceForGood #SocialImpact #CorporateVolunteerism #Innovation #CommunityPartnership

Elisa Istueta Daniel Zauderer Grassroots Grocery and these amazing drivers and young people. 70 families was served today. Thank you all the Butler Community appreciated everything you did today.

What happens when American Express’s Global Risk and Compliance team trades spreadsheets for sunbutter and jelly? The Grassroots Grocery Great Sandwich Race, of course! ??? Inspired by Produce Party regular Tara Weish?upl, this powerhouse team packed into American Express Tower on Tuesday to craft 1,500 sandwiches for our neighbors across Harlem, upper Manhattan, and the Bronx. Whether they’re running risk models or sandwich races, this crew knows how to put the express in teamwork. The winning team, the “Awesome Avocados” ??, took the crown with 292 sandwiches in record time, proving that speed isn’t just for transactions. Membership might have its privileges, but at American Express, it has its sandwiches too! Huge thanks to Tara Weish?upl for bringing Produce Party spirit to her colleagues, and to Thomas Kistler for steering the event to success. And, of course, our own Grassroots Grocery stars Alexandra Whiteford and Julia Shapiro for making the magic happen. When American Express goes all-in, everyone wins – one sandwich at a time. Who’s ready for the next race? #GreatSandwichRace #CommunityImpact #AmExGivesBack #Teamwork

? I am thrilled to introduce Adjoa Nyarko as Grassroots Grocery’s new Director of Individual Giving! ? Adjoa brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to our mission. Like me, Adjoa began her career as a New York City public school teacher, working with students with disabilities in Brooklyn. Witnessing firsthand the inequities in her classroom and within our communities sparked her transition into the nonprofit sector, where she’s dedicated her career to drive meaningful change. Adjoa brings a decade of experience in fundraising and development, including five years focusing on major gifts as the Leadership Gifts Officer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Known for her exceptional skills in building relationships, creating new partnerships and stewarding donors with dedication and care, Adjoa joins our team to spearhead our individual giving strategy. Her mission is to ensure that every Grassroots Grocery supporter and volunteer feels informed and empowered as we continue to grow and prepare to scale our impact. Adjoa Nyarko, we’re so happy to have you on the team and can’t wait for all the incredible things we’ll accomplish together. Here’s to reaching new heights and bringing the communities we serve the most nutritious, disease-fighting produce they deserve. Welcome aboard, Adjoa!??? ?? #MeetTeamGG #CommunityImpact #FoodAccess #Philanthropy #HealthyCommunities Photo by Felix Zhao!

?? Breaking Records & Building Community: 1,300 Sandwiches in One Morning! We had our annual Grassroots Grocery Great Sandwich Race with Octagon Credit Investors on Wednesday, and the results were incredible: ? 1,300+ sunbutter & jelly sandwiches made ??♂? 4 teams competing head-to-head ?? Enthusiastic Eggplants clinching victory with 346 sandwiches ?? Fanciful Figs just 4 sandwiches behind! The real winners? Community partners across Harlem & The Bronx who received these fresh, nutritious sandwiches. Huge thanks to our champions: -Caroline O'Connor for spearheading this initiative year after year! -Jenna V. Reck for flawless logistics -Julia Shapiro & Alexandra Whiteford from team Grassroots Grocery exceptional coordination Three years running, Octagon Credit Investors proves that size doesn't matter when heart leads the way. Your dedication to community service continues to inspire us! ?? Are you ready to take on the Great Sandwich Race at your own company? It's amazing what we can achieve together, one sandwich at a time. #CorporateResponsibility #TeamBuilding #SocialImpact #NYCCommunity #VolunteerWork

Yesterday, on Election Day, iCapital and Grassroots Grocery joined forces for the epic finale of the 2024 iCapital Great Sandwich Race! ???The results? An incredible 2,000+ sunbutter and jelly sandwiches lovingly prepared and distributed to six vital community partners across NYC.?This day showcased the best of community spirit, with iCapital’s diverse teams rallying to spread more than just sandwiches – they spread unity, inclusion, and hope. ?????? ?? Congratulations to the Clever Cauliflowers for stealing the spotlight with an impressive 600 sandwiches (a full 200 more than the second-place Bubbly Blueberries!) Their win helped bring the year’s total to a massive 5,000 sandwiches crafted across three blockbuster events with the iCapital team. This initiative is a beautiful example of a comprehensive corporate-nonprofit partnership through iCapital’s iBelong program, where DEI goes beyond the workplace and into communities. Under the inspiring leadership of Rachel Cheeks-Givan, iBelong is fostering inclusivity and connection across four pillars: Colleagues, Culture, Community, and Clients. In Rachel’s own words, employees came together to “build an inclusive workplace, one neighbor at a time.” ? Special shoutouts to: - Rachel Cheeks-Givan, Chief DEI Officer, our champion from day one, who’s supported this initiative since the early days -Amanda Cede?o on the DEI team for her invaluable support -Sean Swords, office manager, for his masterful logistics orchestration ?? And a huge thank you to the Grassroots Grocery team who made it all possible: -Julia Shapiro & Alexandra Whiteford - operational excellence personified -Tia C., joining in on her second Sandwich Race -Caitlin McMahon, our Volunteer Fellow, who brought the energy to her very first Great Sandwich Race! iCapital truly proves that together, we thrive as neighbors. From corporate boardrooms to community centers, iCapital demonstrates that true impact comes from unified purpose and passionate execution. ?? Ready to join the movement? The sandwich-making torch awaits its next bearer! ?? #CorporateSocialResponsibility #iBelong #EmployeeEngagement #CommunityImpact #PartnershipsThatMatter #TeamBuilding #Inclusion

Jamming out this Election Day with Grassroots Grocery! ?? How many pounds of food would you say goes to waste in NY state alone? Would you believe me if I said 7 billion pounds! ?? That's why today, I'm proud to wear a new hat that signifies the spirit of volunterism and perseverance from our iCapital colleagues who collectively made 2,000 Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches to go towards the fight against food insecurity, and in the hands and mouths of those underserved in our local community. It was a pleasure to serve as a member of the GG Family today! Thank you Daniel Zauderer for going beyond the classroom and showing us what it means to be a good neighbor. Thank you to Rachel Cheeks-Givan and all of our iCapital colleagues for spreading some cheer this Spirit of Giving at iCapital. #teamicapital #iBelong #foodinsecurity #philanthrophy #community #spiritofgiving #corporategiving

??♂? Yesterday was no ordinary Sunday in NYC—it was a day that embodied the spirit of resilience, community, and hope. Watching our Grassroots Grocery team take on the NYC Marathon was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Standing alongside my wife Dilani Wanasinghe and our enthusiastic little nephew, Zane, whose high-five magnetism was unmatched ??, we cheered on these champions for change. Each runner was more than just another athlete on the course—they were a force pushing us closer to a hunger-free New York. Their commitment didn’t just show up on race day; each one of them had already surpassed their $4,000 fundraising goal, ensuring that every step they took would directly impact the lives of neighbors in need. A huge shout-out to our amazing team: Emiliano Martínez-Don, Emily Quatroche, Hamza Tufail, CPA, Kaitlyn Clark of Apollo Global Management, Inc. - and Alyssa Sloane, Andrew Weber, Marc Hopper, MBA, Mike Lyons, Nikhila Obbineni, Rebecca Singer and Sophia Miller of BlackRock! You transformed those 26.2 miles into something even bigger—proving that when neighbors help neighbors, we can bring the pantry to the people, one step at a time. With every stride, you carried with you the hopes and dreams of countless families and communities that Grassroots Grocery serves. ?? Watching from the sidelines is a different kind of marathon magic. This race will always be about more than just the finish line. It’s about neighbors showing up for neighbors, building the kind of community where everyone has access to fresh, healthy food and a place at the table. Thank you to everyone who made this moment possible—runners, donors, and supporters alike. Here’s to the miles we’ve traveled together and the journey still ahead. ?? #NYCMarathon #OutrunHunger #CommunityImpact #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #FoodSecurity

??♂? The Starting Line is Calling! ?? This Sunday, something extraordinary is happening on the streets of New York City. Eleven incredible humans are taking on the legendary NYC Marathon for Grassroots Grocery – and here's what makes my heart soar: every single runner has already crushed their fundraising goal! What makes this even more special? This race has become our tradition of kicking off the holiday giving season, marking the beginning of our most impactful months of the year. Having crossed that finish line myself in 2022 with Dilani Wanasinghe, I know firsthand the dedication, early mornings, and countless miles that went into their preparation. On Wednesday, we gathered for a pre-race celebration, where the energy and anticipation were absolutely electric. ?? Looking at this team photo, I see more than runners – I see champions for change. This Sunday, my wife Dilani Wanasinghe, our little nephew, and I will be among the millions cheering from the sidelines, holding signs and shouting until we're hoarse. To Emily Quatroche, Kaitlyn Clark, Emiliano Martínez-Don, Alyssa Sloane, Sophia Miller, Andrew Weber, Marc Hopper, MBA, Rebecca Singer, Mike Lyons, Nikhila Obbineni, and Hamza Tufail, CPA - you're not just running 26.2 miles – you're carrying the hopes and dreams of our community with every step. You're already winners in our book! ?? #NYCMarathon #RunningForACause #CommunityImpact #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors

I'm thrilled and honored to share that Grassroots Grocery has been awarded the NYC Imagine Awards’ Rising Star award! ?? This recognition is a true testament to our community—our incredible volunteers, partners, and everyone who shows up to ensure neighbors have access to fresh, nutritious food every week. This isn’t just an award for Grassroots Grocery; it’s for everyone who believes in the power of neighbors helping neighbors. A huge congrats to all the other finalists and awardees - and a special thank you to Kelli-Anne Cerini for advocating for us, to Stephen Shiffman for sharing about the opportunity, and to Your Part-Time Controller, LLC and Webster Bank for sponsoring our awards! Thank you to the NYC Imagine Awards for shining a light on our mission and fueling our vision of a nourished and connected New York City. Here’s to more impact, kindness, and community to come! ???? #CommunityImpact #MissionDriven #SocialGood #PhilanthropyInAction #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors