Denver — Simply Good Foods Co.’s Quest brand has selected the recipients of the 2023 Quest for Impact grants: 5-Eleven Hoops, DEUCE Community, Soccer in the Streets and Train of Thought. This marks the second year of Quest’s grant program, with each recipient receiving a $20,000 grant to further change within their communities.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome these four new organizations to the Quest family that share the same commitment and dedication to supporting local communities across the country,” says Linda Zink, CMO of Simply Good Foods. “Each of these remarkable organizations provides skill development to individuals, fostering self-empowerment that brings about immediate and enduring changes benefitting the wider community. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for these organizations as they continue their quest for impact.”
The 2023 Quest for Impact grant recipients are:
- Stacy McAlister, Founder and Executive Director of 5-Eleven Hoops (Los Angeles, CA): A basketball organization uniting individuals with autism and special needs, fostering skill development, sportsmanship, social abilities, and cognitive development. Founder Stacy McAlister draws inspiration from his own son’s autism journey, aiming to establish a comprehensive complex for the autism community. The funding will support basketball classes, various enrichment programs and program management.
- Campbell Lillard, Co-Founder at DEUCE Community (Los Angeles, CA: DEUCE Community is an organization dedicated to serving individuals impacted by the justice system, substance use disorder, and housing instability. By coaching strength and conditioning, DEUCE Community empowers participants to take ownership of their lives, develop essential skills, and work towards personal growth and reintegration into society. The Quest for Impact Grant will allow DEUCE Community to hire additional staff to provide services to support individuals on their path to personal transformation.
- Chelsea Wood, Director of Leadership and Outcomes at Soccer in the Streets (Atlanta, GA): Soccer in the Streets offers programs in underserved communities and fosters sportsmanship, social skills, and nutrition awareness through on-site gardens. Girls with Goals, a program within Soccer in the Streets, empowers young girls to participate in a predominantly male-dominated space. The Quest for Impact grant will support the expansion of Girls with Goals and emphasize mental wellness, social and emotional learning, and community engagement with local female leaders in the city.
- Damen Fletcher, Founder and CEO of Train of Thought (Los Angeles, CA): Train of Thought is a chess education program designed to develop students’ minds and prepare them for the complexities and demands of the world. With a mission to make chess accessible to every school and student, Train of Thought serves numerous schools, hires dedicated coaches, and has taught thousands of students. The grant will enable the program to expand into more schools and provide chess boards to households in the communities they serve.
