Lineage Foundation for Good Joins Forces with DC Central Kitchen to combat food insecurity at 20th annual Capital Food Fight

Launched in late 2021, the Lineage Foundation for Good is a 501(c)3 public charity organization. Our mission is to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity by developing a dynamic, real-time and global link between those who commercially produce our food and the individuals, families and communities who need it most.

In the 3 short years since its inception, the Lineage Foundation for Good has helped our customers facilitate the donation of nearly 30 million pounds of food. And we’ve invested over $6.5 million in funding to charitable partners across the globe – and as far we’re concerned, we’re just getting started.

We’re proud of our global partnerships that enable us to support philanthropic initiatives making a real impact in communities across the globe. Last week, the Foundation had the honor of supporting DC Central Kitchen, an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation, as a presenting sponsor for its signature annual fundraiser - Capital Food Fight.
 

DC’s Baddest Night of Doing Good

Dubbed “DC’s Baddest Night of Doing Good”, Capital Food Fight brings together celebrity chefs competing to make the tastiest dishes by incorporating secret ingredients in front of a live audience. The fundraiser benefits DC Central Kitchen’s award-winning job training and nutrition programs in Washington, DC. The event has raised over $12 million since its inception in 2004.

Four battling chefs – Katarina Petonito, Eastern Point Collective; Sarah Ravitz, Shilling Canning Company; Jovana Urriola, Colada Shop; and Yuan Tang, Ellie Bird/Rooster & Owl – competed at this year’s event on a live stage hosted and judged by some of the biggest names in the culinary world. The biggest battle won that night, however, was the community’s fight against hunger: a whopping $900,000 was raised thanks to the sponsors, attendees and 80+ restaurants that served delicious food all night in support of this year’s event.

Photo credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for DC Central Kitchen

As we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Capital Food Fight, what stood out to me most is the unique approach that DC Central Kitchen takes toward its central cause. Every dollar raised from the annual event supports DC Central Kitchen’s efforts to tackle the root drivers of hunger by providing culinary training and job opportunities to underserved individuals in the community. This innovative model not only resonates with the Foundation’s mission, but it’s a great example of how we can address the social determinants of health holistically.

We are honored to partner with DC Central kitchen and will be forever grateful for their extraordinary efforts to make a truly monumental impact on their community and beyond. 

A special thank you to the incredible DC Central Kitchen team and to all of the other individuals and sponsors who make DC’s baddest night of doing good, possible. We had fun and did some good together.
 

Taking a dynamic approach to tackling hunger everywhere

At Lineage, we believe that food is everything. It sustains the world, empowers communities, embodies culture and heritage, inspires creativity and serves as a catalyst for innovation. Lineage created the Foundation to make our impact reach further, knowing that food waste and insecurity is not only a global issue but also one felt closer to home. It also is a top down driven priority. Having support and engagement from our the Lineage executive leadership and people like Megan Hendricksen, our global vice president for marketing and communications, join the DC Central Kitchen Board of Directors, our purpose and community work through Lineage Foundation for Good is a part of our core behavior, decisions and DNA.

Since the moment we met the DC Central Kitchen team, we have admired their barrier-free model that puts true liberation of people at the center of their goals, missions and operations, addressing the deeper symptoms of hunger and poverty through social enterprise. These are not isolated issues – access to nutritious food, economic stability and community support are intertwined and collectively crucial to addressing food insecurity. By aligning with organizations like DC Central Kitchen, the Foundation is learning from and adopting best practices that can be scaled to reach more communities in need.

As we embark on this next stage of our journey, our team’s passion and commitment to innovation is already making a lasting difference in communities around the globe. Food is essential for everyone, everywhere, and we’re committed to ensuring food waste and hunger has nowhere to hide.

-Hannah