Grassroots Grocery

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

🏃♂️ 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

Always such a great day when we can help out Daniel Zauderer and the Grassroots Grocery organization. With Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl #givingback #sustainability #hungersolutions

🚀 Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting the Grassroots Grocery Great Sandwich Race at EOS Investors LLC’s Madison Avenue HQ right after their October All Hands Company Meeting! 🙌 This was not just any event—EOS Investors LLC brought their entrepreneurial drive at institutional scale to the table (literally), transforming their team’s energy into powerful community impact! 💪 Led by CEO Jonathan Wang, who I first met through a Bar Mitzvah Project (what an unexpected and inspiring connection!), this partnership truly blossomed into something special. 🌱 The EOS team, with members from all over the U.S., came together in one epic round, forming five teams and crafting over 1,500 sunbutter & jelly sandwiches for our community partners throughout Harlem and Upper Manhattan. 🥪❤️ Some of these sandwiches even made their way to unhoused New Yorkers through a collaboration with The Bowery Mission. 🥇 Shoutout to the Brave Broccolis, who took the crown for the most sandwiches made! 🥦 Special kudos to: 🎉 Jonathan Wang, for bringing his passion for service from the Bar Mitzvah event to his company. 🎯 Amanda Calabrese, Executive Assistant & Office Manager, for making everything happen with seamless perfection. ⚙️ Our Grassroots Grocery rockstars Julia Shapiro & Alexandra Whiteford, who keep the gears turning and the sandwiches flowing! It's moments like this that remind us how corporate America can weave social impact into the fabric of team culture. EOS Investors LLC, you’ve set the bar high, and we can’t wait to see more companies step up and join the race! 🏆 Who’s next? 👀 #CorporateSocialResponsibility #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #CommunityImpact #SocialImpact #VolunteerEngagement #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors

🚀 From Inspiration to Impact: A Corporate Olympics with Purpose! When Kierstyn Thayer, Head of Citizenship at Blue Owl Capital, saw me speak on a panel in 2023, we couldn't have predicted the incredible collaboration that would follow. Last Thursday, that spark ignited into the Grassroots Grocery Great Sandwich Race at the Blue Owl Capital Olympics 🏅- a highlight event that combined team-building with giving back. The numbers speak for themselves:  • 4 high-energy rounds  • 3,800 sunbutter & jelly sandwiches  • Countless smiles across Harlem and the Bronx 💫 This wasn't just another corporate event - it was BOLT (Blue Owl Leads Together) in action, demonstrating how team building and community impact can come together to create magic. 🌟 Leadership that made it happen: • Doug Ostrover, Blue Owl Capital Co-CEO - fearless leader behind the Blue Owl Capital Olympics • Kierstyn Thayer & Anna Desai - the dynamic duo who brought this collaboration to life • John Lehmann of Uplifteam, the creative force behind the Olympics! 🎯 The Grassroots Grocery Dream Team: • Julia Shapiro & Alexandra Whiteford — Our incredible team members who always keep the gears turning • Tia C. - Our intern, who experienced her very first sandwich race! • Pablo Chavana - From intern to official event photographer 📸 What makes this event so special? It's where corporate excellence meets community care. Every sandwich wasn't just part of the competition—it was a commitment to our neighbors, proving that corporate America can be a force for good. 🤝 #CorporateImpact #TeamBuilding #SocialResponsibility #CommunityFirst #EmployeeEngagement #CSR

🌟 Fame & Flow in action! 🌟 Last Wednesday, Initiative took a break from building brands and dove headfirst into building sandwiches! 🥪💪 12 dynamic teams whipped up an impressive 3,500 sunbutter & jelly sandwiches in our latest Grassroots Grocery Great Sandwich Race, with the Happy Habañeros leading the charge. 🌶️🏆 But the real winners? 10 community partners across Harlem and The Bronx, who received this fresh wave of nourishment. 🌍💚 Special shoutout to Emily Cooper and Cristina Hernandez from the Givsly team for helping pulling it all together and to Stacy McCarthy DeRiso for her leadership. As always, a huge thanks to Julia Shapiro and Alexandra Whiteford from the Grassroots Grocery team for keeping the Sandwich Race running smoothly! At Initiative, it’s all about uniting people in culture and creating meaningful connections. And let me tell you, we saw Fame & Flow in full force—both in the culture of teamwork and in the flow of sandwiches rolling out for those who need them most. 🏙️ #CorporateSocialResponsibility #Teamwork #MakeAnImpact #CommunityEngagement #FameAndFlow

We are excited to announce that our most recent podcast recording is live on Spotify! Check the link in our bio to watch and learn more! We were honored to be joined by Daniel Zauderer, executive director of Grassroots Grocery, an amazing organization dedicated to fighting hunger in a community-oriented way based in NYC. We thank both Dan and Grassroots Grocery for their insight, lessons, and acting as a role model for younger organizations like Food4Philly!

🏃♂️🏃♀️ Why Running the Marathon Means More Than Miles 🏅 As we approach the New York City Marathon on November 3rd, I've been reflecting on what this race has meant for me and Grassroots Grocery. Two years ago, my now-wife Dilani Wanasinghe and I ran the marathon for the first time and raised funds together for Grassroots Grocery. That race didn't just bring us closer—it brought us closer to our mission. Since then, our marathon team has grown, and this year we're excited to have four amazing teammates from Apollo Global Management, Inc. joining us. 👏 With race day looming, Hamza Tufail and Kaitlyn Clark made an incredible choice. Despite being deep into training, they spent last Saturday with us at our Produce Party. 🌱🍅 Their dedication to Grassroots Grocery during such a demanding time says everything about their passion for giving back. We're proud to have them on our team, and can't wait to see the impact we make together. 🙌 Thank you, Hamza and Kaitlyn, for going the extra mile—both in your training and in helping to nourish our communities. 💪🍽️ #NYCMarathon #CommunityImpact #ProduceParty #CorporateSocialResponsibility