beacon of light series
Shining a Light on Hope & Action
AN EVENING CONVERSATION
with
Priscilla Heffelfinger,
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Thrive
Thrive:
School Meals Change Lives
Thursday, August 21
7pm
wine and cheese reception following
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Join us for the inaugural event in the Beacon of Light series as we welcome Priscilla Heffelfinger, whose nonprofit, Thrive, is transforming the lives of children and communities through something as simple—and as essential—as a school meal.
In this powerful evening, Priscilla will share Thrive’s journey and how school meals serve as catalysts for community transformation. She’ll explore the ripple effects of school meals —improved health, stronger academic performance, economic opportunities for mothers, and the rise of local gardening movements. She’ll also speak to the growing urgency of meal support in light of unstable food prices caused by climate change, and how locally led, scalable approaches like Thrive’s are helping communities weather these shifting tides.
Whether you're passionate about education, global equity, food justice, or just curious to hear a story of hope in action—this evening is for you.
This event is free and open to all. Donations to support Thrive’s work are welcome.
Priscilla Heffelfinger is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Thrive, a nonprofit providing daily nutrition to schoolchildren in underserved communities in Bangladesh and the Philippines. Her leadership is rooted in over 20 years of experience in global development, spanning project consulting with BRAC USA, strategic roles with Smarter Good, and research work at NORC at the University of Chicago.
Priscilla brings a rare blend of empathy, analytical thinking, and cross-sector expertise to her work, having guided Thrive from a grassroots startup to a growing nonprofit recognized for its impact in school nutrition and community resilience.
event sponsored by
