We are concerned about the proliferation of chronic diseases and are interested in offering grants for healthy plant-based eating initiatives. Many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, are often related to poor lifestyle choices. Research has shown that human health has been negatively affected by sedentary lifestyles and consumption of meat-based diets that are high in fat and processed foods. 

Many chronic diseases can be prevented and even reversed by the adoption of a whole-food, plant-based diet, along with proper exercise. We are interested in supporting “to be healthy” projects that encourage better health by: 

1) Educating people about the health advantages of plant-based diets; 

2) Teaching people how to prepare plant-based meals that are nutritious as well as delicious; 

3) Providing plant-based meals to low-income people, hospital workers, or first responders; 

4) Providing encouragement and community support to people who are interested in plant-based diets; 

5) Promoting backyard vegetable gardening and composting; 

6) Providing nutritional training to parents so that their children will grow up stronger and healthier; and 

7) Other innovative approaches.

Sedentary lifestyles are detrimental to good health. We are interested in supporting projects that encourage better health by: 

1) Developing and maintaining parks and trails; 

2) Providing opportunities for children to visit parks; 

3) Providing more opportunities for diversity in outdoor recreation; and 

4) Other innovative approaches. 

We are also concerned about the generation of infectious diseases from “wet markets” and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Scientists have known for decades that animals who are raised or kept in tightly confined areas can be the source of disease. It is also clear that the routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock, with the objective of preventing infections caused by confining the animals in cramped and unsanitary conditions, can create new strains of diseases that are antibiotic resistant. In this regard, avoiding the consumption of animal products, and thereby lowering demand for them, can potentially reduce the incidence of some diseases. 

We are interested in providing grants for food programs that encourage better health by: 

1) Taking action to eliminate wet markets, which exist in the United States as well as in Asia; 

2) Working to eliminate CAFOs or, in the meantime, at least improving the conditions under which livestock are raised; 

3) Educating people about the connection between animal confinement and infectious diseases; 

4) Promoting plant-based diets as a way to help ward off future pandemics; and 

5) Other innovative approaches.