From Passion to Purpose

Sometimes, meaningful change begins by noticing something small that others may overlook.

For Jared Saiontz, it was realizing that individuals with food allergies often have limited options at food shelters. For Rohin Menon, it was wanting to ensure that everyone feels celebrated on their birthday, regardless of their access to resources. For Gloria Chi, it was discovering how a passion for growing her own food could also serve her community.

That spirit of action is exactly what the 10 Under 20 Food Heroes program was created to recognize. While their paths may look different, this year’s 10 Under 20 Food Heroes share a common belief: small actions can spark a lasting impact.

A Seat at the Table

Each year, Hormel Foods recognizes 10 young changemakers and innovators as 10 Under 20 Food Heroes. Connected by a passion for food, Food Heroes are eager to rally others to create lasting changes within their communities and shape the future in a positive way. Beyond recognition, the program connects honorees with mentorship, executive advising, future opportunities to apply for an internship, and other experiences designed to help them continue growing their impact. This year, our Food Heroes traveled a combined 12,000 miles from across the country to be a part of this in-person event.

“Our Mission to ‘nourish people and strengthen communities’ ties directly to this program because these Food Heroes are doing exactly that,” says Henry Hsia, vice president of marketing at Hormel Foods. “We’re recognizing and supporting food heroes who are living the Hormel Foods Values in their work: ‘Play for the Whole Team,’ ‘Do the Right Thing,’ and ‘Originate What’s Next.’ Young people who demonstrate these traits should be encouraged, recognized, and supported so they are motivated to continue doing such work today and in whatever field they pursue later in life.”

Through the 10 Under 20 Food Heroes program, Hormel Foods is able to help do just that.

During their visit to Austin, Minnesota, the Food Heroes engaged in conversations with Hormel Foods leaders, asking questions and exploring what it means to create a lasting impact through leadership. The experience gave the honorees an opportunity to exchange ideas with company leaders while learning how purpose-driven organizations can scale their impact. Sessions throughout the day also explored more about the history of Hormel Foods and gave ample time for connections with each other.

“I learned that there are so many impressive people out there,” says Prakhya Koya, founder and CEO of Leap4u. “So many people doing so many different things. And now I have a group of people I can genuinely stay in touch with.”

I learned that there are so many impressive people out there. So many people doing so many different things. And now I have a group of people I can genuinely stay in touch with.
Prakhya Koya, founder and CEO, Leap4u

Our Food Heroes were also formally recognized with an award ceremony, where each had a chance to share more about their mission and organization with the rest of the company.

Alex Cai, president and founder of the Food Lounge, says his favorite part about his visit was the chance to share his thoughts on stage: “The best part was being able to share with people and also listening to what other people have to say about their organizations and their work fighting food insecurity.”

Gloria Chi, founder of Fungi For Future, says she’s been inspired by her time meeting with other Food Heroes. “It’s just a good reminder that we’re all working towards the same goals. We’re not alone in this.”

While each Food Hero’s story is unique, several common themes emerged throughout their time in Austin: authenticity, perseverance and a desire to help others. Hear from members of the 2026 class whose work demonstrates how passion can grow into purpose.

What Drives Them

Gloria Chi, Bloomington, IN., Fungi For Future

For many of this year’s Food Heroes, their project started with something that felt personal; it started small and grew into a community of people willing to help.

For Gloria Chi, it’s all about being authentic. “I feel like mushroom growing isn’t the most common after-school activity,” says the 14-year-old from Bloomington, Indiana. “But I like growing mushrooms, I like mushrooms, so people can see that, and it makes them enthusiastic and it makes them want to help out.”

Gloria founded Fungi for Future, an innovative sustainability initiative that transforms used coffee grounds from local cafés into mushroom-growing substrate, creating fresh, locally grown food for communities in need while reducing waste. She had a natural affinity for plants, but a recent move to Indiana made it difficult to continue to grow the fruit trees she once enjoyed. “I decided to challenge myself and grow something that I had never grown before, and that something was mushrooms,” she says. “I also feel like mushrooms are really underrated, which I don’t really understand why, but they’re really cool.”

For Gloria, authenticity has been the foundation of both her innovation and her impression. “It’s like those unusual stories, the 14-year-old girl growing mushrooms in her basement, that gather the most attention and the most impact. Don’t be afraid of what other people think because if it’s something that you really like, people are going to want to help out.”

Don’t be afraid of what other people think because if it’s something that you really like, people are going to want to help out.
Gloria Chi, founder, Fungi for Future

Prakhya Koya, Washington, D.C., Leap4u

Food Hero Prakhya Koya, founder and CEO of Leap4u, feels empowered when she sees how her work is changing her community. “I feel like now, a lot more youth are stepping up to take charge of what interests them. When you’re able to start from a young age, your passion just keeps growing,” says Prakhya. “Having a generation of people who are able to start young and continue growing their ideas, I mean, that can only be a positive thing, right?”

Having a generation of people who are able to start young and continue growing their ideas, I mean, that can only be a positive thing, right?
Prakhya Koya, founder and CEO, Leap4u

Leap4u is broken into four distinct programs: Zero Hunger, Zero Waste, Zero Poverty, and Mental Health. Her organization is committed to providing food and transforming it into hope for communities, ensuring that every individual has access to a nutritious meal. Prakhya has rescued over 30,000 pounds of food and provided more than 70,000 meals to people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Her work doesn’t come without its own challenges.

“It takes time to get to where you want to get, especially when you’re under 18. When we contact these restaurants, they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re just a high schooler,’” she said.

But she feels rewarded when she sees the impact her organization is making.

“As we kept going with more volunteers, the shelter residents were able to recognize us. They were able to have comfortable conversations with us and keep asking us to come back,” Prakhya said. “The recognition from the shelter residents themselves is like, ‘Oh, OK, they actually do look forward to us coming and helping out.’”

Jared Saiontz, Chappaqua, N.Y., Pack the Pantry

Whether addressing food insecurity, reducing waste or building community connections, this year’s Food Heroes are recognizing needs in their communities and creating solutions to build a stronger food system.

Jared Saiontz founded Pack the Pantry after recognizing that individuals with food allergies often lacked safe food options at local food pantries. His journey began while volunteering at a local food shelter through his school.
“I was volunteering, and I realized as I was looking around the shelves that there was no allergen safe food, or food put to the side to help people with food allergies,” he says.

The moment struck a chord with Jared, who was born with 26 anaphylactic food allergies. “When I went home that night, I thought to myself, what could I do?”

When I went home that night, I thought to myself, what could I do?
Jared Saiontz, founder, Pack the Pantry

That question became the foundation for Pack the Pantry. Through his nonprofit, Jared has developed allergen-safety protocols for food pantries, including multilingual educational materials identifying the top nine allergens. To date, more than 630 food pantries have adopted these practices, helping ensure that individuals with food allergies can safely access the food they need.

For Jared, the mission is personal. “I wanted to help out the people who are going to food pantries and are already at such a disadvantage with the choices they get and the options they can have,” he says. “If you have food allergies, that just limits your options way more.”

Jared hopes to not only help provide allergen friendly food but also help alleviate the cost of specialty foods that can sometimes come at a higher price-point. “One of the problems with allergy safe food is that it sometimes tends to be a little more expensive,” he says. Through Pack the Pantry, Jared hopes to make the food pantry experience safer, more accessible and more welcoming for those who rely on it.

“They deserve food that is safe for them, and it’s just such a simple thing to do,” he says.

Looking Ahead

As these young leaders continue building their organizations and expanding their impact, Hormel Foods is proud to support their journeys and celebrate the difference they’re making in communities across the country.

“These young leaders really impress me with their genuine compassion,” says Henry Hsia, vice president of marketing at Hormel Foods. “Whether they observed others dealing with adversity or experienced adversity themselves and now want to help others in similar situations, these young leaders have an incredible desire and willingness to take actions to help others, and I find it truly admirable.”

These young leaders really impress me with their genuine compassion. Whether they observed others dealing with adversity or experienced adversity themselves and now want to help others in similar situations, these young leaders have an incredible desire and willingness to take actions to help others, and I find it truly admirable.
Henry Hsia, vice president of marketing, Hormel Foods

For many Food Heroes, the recognition serves as an encouragement to continue pursuing their goals.

“It means a lot,” says Nael Lewis-Shakur a leader on We Cancerve’s all-youth board. “I wasn’t expecting it. I usually focus on the projects, but once I heard the news, it really meant a lot.”

Looking ahead, Nael hopes to continue growing his impact and believes the world would be a better place if everyone chose kindness.

The 2026 class of Food Heroes demonstrates that age is no barrier to leadership. Through creativity, determination, and service, these young changemakers are already helping shape the future of food.

10 Under 20 Food Heroes

We are excited to increase awareness of the great efforts being spearheaded by young people across the nation.

To learn more about the work of young entrepreneurs who are working to address environmental and food insecurity problems, visit https://10under20foodheroes.com/

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