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

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Our Mission
Why School Food Matters
Founder Chef Ann
Our Team
Board of Directors
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We’re dedicated to empowering schools nationwide with the tools, training, resources, and funding they need to serve meals. Browse through programs to learn more about our work and apply for a grant.

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

Since 2009, the Chef Ann Foundation has worked with schools to implement healthy school meal programs. Dive into the organization’s history and learn about our impact on school food reform over the years.

Visit Overview
Our Impact
Our History
Success Stories
FOR SCHOOLS

Want to learn how you can create school food change? Our toolkit lays out how to approach your district and advocate for healthier food in your child’s school.

Visit Overview
Step 1: Get Educated
Step 2: Get Organized
Step 3: Get Support
Step 4: Take Action
Tools for Home

Learn more about school food with resources, home recipes, and press materials.

Visit Overview
Resource Library
Home Recipes
About School Food
Press Room
Press Releases

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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Donate
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The Lunch Box
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The Lunch Box
School Food Institute
SCALE
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WHO WE ARE

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

Visit Overview
Our Mission
Why School Food Matters
Founder Chef Ann
Our Team
Board of Directors
Financials & Annual Reports
Employment

WHAT WE DO

We’re dedicated to empowering schools nationwide with the tools, training, resources, and funding they need to serve meals. Browse through programs to learn more about our work and apply for a grant.

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

WHAT WE’VE DONE

Since 2009, the Chef Ann Foundation has worked with schools to implement healthy school meal programs. Dive into the organization’s history and learn about our impact on school food reform over the years.

Visit Overview
Our Impact
Our History
Success Stories
FOR SCHOOLS

ADVOCACY TOOLKIT

Want to learn how you can create school food change? Our toolkit lays out how to approach your district and advocate for healthier food in your child’s school.

Visit Overview
Step 1: Get Educated
Step 2: Get Organized
Step 3: Get Support
Step 4: Take Action
Tools for Home

KNOWLEDGE CENTER

Learn more about school food with resources, home recipes, and press materials.

Visit Overview
Resource Library
Home Recipes
About School Food
Press Room
Press Releases

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 Supporters
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Helenka Ostrum

she/her

Senior Marketing Coordinator, Sustainability & Online Resource Programs

Helenka joined the Chef Ann Foundation team in December 2025 and currently serves as the Senior Marketing Coordinator for Sustainability & Online Resource Programs. In this role, she supports the marketing and communication needs of various programs, including Salad Bars to Schools, Bulk Milk, the School Food Institute, and The Lunch Box. She strives to ensure that school districts and school food professionals have the education, training, and technical assistance they need to make healthy meals for all students. 

Helenka Ostrum

she/her

Senior Marketing Coordinator, Sustainability & Online Resource Programs

Helenka joined the Chef Ann Foundation team in December 2025 and currently serves as the Senior Marketing Coordinator for Sustainability & Online Resource Programs. In this role, she supports the marketing and communication needs of various programs, including Salad Bars to Schools, Bulk Milk, the School Food Institute, and The Lunch Box. She strives to ensure that school districts and school food professionals have the education, training, and technical assistance they need to make healthy meals for all students. 

Prior to joining the team, Helenka supported marketing, communications, school nutrition, and public health initiatives at several federal and state government agencies, including the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Women’s Health and Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Texas Department of Agriculture. 

Helenka is a North Carolina FoodCorps service member alum. She has an MS in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, as well as an MPH in Health Services Management and Policy from Tufts University.

Outside of work, Helenka enjoys baking and taste-testing new recipes with her daughter, listening to audiobooks, and hiking. 

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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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