The Bubble Foundation: NYC Food Based Community Organization Spotlight

by Alexina Cather, MPH

What they do: The Bubble Foundation partners with New York City schools located in underserved communities, to empower kids to make healthy choices through education for the whole school community. From the classroom to the cafeteria, Bubble works with schools to incorporate nutrition and wellness into the fabric of each school’s curriculum and culture.

How they do it: Bubble partners with schools for two years, free of charge, to provide intensive weekly cooking, gardening, and movement education to all students. At the same time, Bubble works closely with the school’s administration, teachers, and parent community to build a school culture that embraces wellness. At the end of two years, Bubble graduates its schools and continues to support them in the next phase of partnership by providing curriculum, professional development, and advisory support.

Mission: The Bubble Foundation believes all children should have access to the food, education, and activities that help them live healthy and happy lives. Bubble aspires to become a community standard for engaging and impactful education designed to help kids make the best food and exercise choices possible. Bubble is dedicated to partnering with schools free of charge to build holistic wellness programming that has a lasting impact.

Latest project/campaign: Of our nineteen partner schools to date, we are currently working with eight schools in their first phase of partnership and eleven schools who have successfully graduated from our program. Last year, we were thrilled to fully launch our GROWS classroom garden curriculum for all grade levels. This year, we are working with STEM Academy to launch a national STEM elementary curriculum that incorporates Bubble’s proven cooking and wellness curriculum.

Major Funding: Private support

Profit/nonprofit: Nonprofit

Annual budget: N/A

Interesting fact about how they are working to positively affect the food system: Bubble programs teach more than 1,200 students each week.

FACT SHEET

Location: Across NYC/HQ in Manhattan

Core Programs:

  • EATS cooking and nutrition program: weekly classes for students, family meals, parent and teacher workshops
  • GROWS garden program: weekly classes for students, school garden support, farm field trips
  • MOVES fitness program: movement classes for students, parent and teacher fitness workshops
  • We also workday closely with administrators, teachers, and parents to support changes in the cafeteria and culture of our schools, including wellness policy creation, wellness committee development, professional development, and school food advisory.

Number of staff: 4 full-time, 1 FoodCorps service member

Number of volunteers: Approximately 60

Photo credit: The Bubble Foundation (location: PS 194 in Harlem)

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