Directory of Organizations
Food from the 'Hood Entrepreneurial Institute
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Many Los Angeles consumers buy Straight Out 'the Garden salad dressings-Creamy Italian, No Fat Honey Mustard, 2000 Island and Ranch-at local supermarkets and health food stores. They prefer these dressings because they contain only natural ingredients. Shoppers are also aware that these items are produced by a local organization called Food from the 'Hood (FFTH), the first student-managed natural food products company in the U.S.
FFTH began as a campus garden at Crenshaw High School. Students soon started selling produce from the garden to local farmers markets. By the mid-90s, FFTH introduced its first salad dressing and began distributing it to retailers throughout the Los Angeles region. This pioneering grassroots organization gives student-owners practical opportunities to:
- Boost academic performance
- Learn entrepreneurial and business development skills
- Prepare for college
- Build community pride
- Develop life skills
FFTH is a mechanism that helps inspire at-risk youth to go to college and help them earn money for the tuition: fifty percent of the company's profits are earmarked for scholarships of up to $15,000 a year per student. Remaining profits are reinvested into the company to keep it running.
Merrill Lynch funding supports the personal investment and finance component for FFTH's Entrepreneurial Program. The two-part program helps student-owners manage the money they've earned for college and provides youngsters the business/financial knowledge needed to operate the FFTH business—and their life goals—more strategically. In 2003, FFTH programming reached 25 youth ages 12-18, helping them gain hands-on experience and participate in workshops and visits to reinforce classroom learning.
Merrill Lynch funds Food From The 'Hood's personal investment and finance component, which reinforces student-owners' money management skills.
"Food From the 'Hood is a business but it teaches much more. We learn how to take responsibility for our actions, how to set priorities and how to be leaders."
- Terry Smith, '98, former student manager
News Releases
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Contact Information:
Monique Hunter
Executive Director & Board President
Food from the 'Hood
6109 South Western Avenue, #102
Los Angeles, CA 90047
Phone: 323.759.7000
Fax: 323.759.7070
E-mail: monique@foodfromthehood.com
Website: www.foodfromthehood.com |
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Program Contact Information:
Monique Hunter
Executive Director & Board President
Phone: 323.759.7000
Fax: 323.759.7070
E-mail: monique@foodfromthehood.com
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