When Purpose Sits at the Table

Last week, at the Wholesome Wave Celebrity Chef Dinner at Platform by The James Beard Foundation, I was reminded of what anchors communities at their core.

Access. Dignity. The confidence that your family will eat, grow, and thrive.

Michel Nischan gathered an extraordinary group of chefs and stewards of the food world. The evening carried intention. Skill grounded in service. A shared belief that food can strengthen roots and widen opportunity.

Days later, the nation confronted a potential interruption to SNAP benefits for the first time in sixty years. A judge intervened, and still, millions will receive only half of what they need. That reality lives in households across the country. It shapes health, stability, and possibility.

Wholesome Wave has long been a steady force in this work. Expanding access to fresh produce. Advancing produce-prescription programs in healthcare. Pairing humanity with evidence to influence systems at scale.

Topi was proud to support the evening. Watching Casey Crane step into the Executive Director role reinforced what effective leadership looks like in this moment: clarity, urgency, and a commitment to building systems that serve people, not headlines.

Food culture moves quickly. Innovation cycles fast. Philanthropy shifts focus. Yet nourishment remains the foundation that allows communities to stand and futures to form.

We have a responsibility to protect and expand that foundation.

Invest in access.
Champion dignity.
Build systems worthy of the people they serve.

To everyone advancing this work with consistency, care, and conviction—keep going. The path is long, and it is worth it.