The Claneil Foundation, a private family foundation based in Philadelphia, recently selected Community Plates’s Executive Director Kevin Mullins and the national food rescue organization as recipients of the Emerging Leaders Fund grant (tinyurl.com/CommunityPlates). Mullins was selected from a competitive pool of 75 nominations representing emerging organizations in the Mid Atlantic/New England region. The organization will receive $200,000 in general operating funds over four years, and as the organization’s leader, Mullins will have access to up to $10,000 for professional development.

“This grant is important validation of all the energy so many have invested in establishing a new type of solution to American food insecurity,” says Mullins. “In addition, it is a real affirmation of our vision to end hunger in the United States through direct transfer food rescue. We are honored to be recognized alongside previous innovative leaders and organizations as well as our three other co-grantees this year.”

Originally started in Fairfield County, Community Plates now operates in seven locations across the country: Fairfield County, New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; and New Orleans, Louisiana. There are plans to establish seven more sites by the end of 2016. Founded in 2011, the organization has rescued 11.8 million meals and saved 18.1 million pounds of food from landfills, at an estimated value of $30.7 million.

For more information, visit CommunityPlates.org.